280 Dr Fleming on the insufficiency of the Evidence Jbr 



comparative anatomist has traced a considerable resemblance be- 

 tween the skeleton of the hippopotamus and the common ox. 

 No analogy, in this case, would have led the enquirer to form 

 even the slightest suspicions respecting the existence of those 

 aquatic habits of the former animal, which constitute so singu- 

 lar a feature in its character. Let us place on a table the ske- 

 letons of the ermine, the polecat and the otter, and the general 

 resemblance of these to one another would at once be admitted ; 

 and, confiding in our analogies^ we might pronounce their ha- 

 bits to be similar. Observation, however, would convince us 

 that these three species were different in their habits and pro- 

 pensities, though included by Linnaeus in the genus Mustela. 

 The common bear and arctic bear exhibit equal resemblances 

 of structure, and equal differences of habit. These fact?, and 

 multitudes of the same kind which might be produced, intimate 

 the propriety of relying on analogy with caution, in all those 

 cases to which our observation does not extend. The skeleton 

 of the hippopotamus could not give any intimation of the div- 

 ing powers of the animal, nor would the bones of the feet of the 

 otter lead to the supposition of its having webbed toes. Osteolo- 

 gy, indeed, gives but very imperfect indications, even of exter- 

 nal form, in many animals. Would the round caudal vertebrae 

 of the seal indicate the depressed tail of the animal, or the de- 

 pressed bones of the face in the whale indicate the remarkable 

 fulness of the outline of its head ? We may agree with Cuvier 

 in supposing that the mastodon had a proboscis like an ele- 

 phant (to enable it to procure its food from the ground), from 

 the general resemblance of the two animals in structure, 

 from the length of its legs, and the slight development of 

 the toes. But when we remember the giraffe, with its head 

 proportionally farther removed from the ground than the mas- 

 todon, able to provide food without a proboscis ; and the hip- 

 popotamus and the dipper (Cinclus aqtiaticus)^ which are ex- 

 cellent swimmers, though seemingly ill suited for the exercise, 

 we will view the conjecture in no other light than a probability, 

 and not remarkably strong. 



2. If two animals resemble each other in ej'ternal appearance^ 

 ivill their habits be similar ? — It is seldom, indeed, that two ani- 

 mals resemble each other in all their organs, so very closely, as 



