from all other Beings. 6 1 1 



" Man alone," he says, " of all the countless wonders of 

 creation, though clad in a material frame, the functions of 

 which are necessarily identical with those of other animals, is 

 no pari of the mere reciprocal system of nature ; as they are. 

 He alone is bound to no particular locality, but inhabits alike 

 the mountain and the plain, and by contrivance is enabled to 

 endure the fervid heats of tropical climates, and the withering 

 blasts of a polar winter ; traverses in all directions the wide 

 extent of the pathless ocean, interchanges purposely the pro- 

 ductions of distant lands, and accommodates the respective 

 soils for their reception." 



Do not animals exhibit contrivance, when we see the elephant 

 plastering himself over with mud, either for the purpose of 

 keeping off the heat of the sun, or the annoyance of insects ; 

 and when we see the dormouse, and many other animals, gather- 

 ing materials by which they may be protected from the rigours 

 of winter? Perhaps he will tell us of instinct. Let that pass, 

 then. But how does it appear that man " alone is bound to 

 no particular locality," when it is known that ravens, and 

 some other animals, are met with in all parts of the world. 



" He alone degenerates in climates which supply his every 

 natural want; and placed, as nature formed him, in the richest 

 soil, is a being out of his element, unable by the mere unas- 

 sisted use of his own organs, to maintain his existence as a 

 species/ ' 



Degenerates ! Who shall presume to declare which, among 

 a number of human races or tribes^ is the degenerated one, 

 and which has preserved its primitive physiology ? When it is 

 said that man, " placed as nature formed him (that is, in a 

 state of nudity, and without implements), is a being out of his 

 element, unable, by the mere unassisted use of his own organs, 

 to maintain his existence as a species, it is clearly intimated 

 that he must have a weapon of defence and attack. No peculiar 

 distinction this, surely, when we know that apes, in a wild state, 

 defend themselves with bludgeons, and by throwing sticks and 

 stones as missiles at their enemies. Even the little ant-lion 

 throws grains of sand at his prey, so as to make it tumble 

 into his pitfall. 



" He alone studies the complicated laws of matter, that he 

 may wield them at his will." 



No one, to be sure, can imagine that animals study astronomy, 

 chemistry, or mathematics ; but that animals do observe the 

 common laws of matter, and avail themselves of their observ- 

 ations, thousands of popular and well-authenticated anecdotes 

 fully testify. 



" He alone possesses a power of indefinite self-improvement, 



Y r 2 



