MAMMALIA. 
31 
other of these varieties. Food, climate, and other causes, may 
greatly alter the general character, but the hereditary peculiari¬ 
ties may nevertheless be traced. 
Man is found to be the native of all climes, while other ani¬ 
mals are generally circumscribed in their geographical range. 
He can endure the burning heats of the torrid zone, and Zem- 
bla’s snows; but it is found that in either extreme he is sub¬ 
ject to diminution of stature : and attains the greatest size, and 
most perfect form, under a temperate latitude. 
Man is truly an omnivorous animal, as he lives upon all kinds 
of food. 
ORDER II.—QUADRUMANA. 
The Quadrumana have three kinds of teeth, namely, incisors, 
canines, and molars : the four extremities are terminated by 
hands, with the thumb detached, having a muscular action by 
which it is capable of being more or less opposed to the fingers, 
which are long and flexible, so that they can grasp branches of 
trees with facility: they have two or four pectoral mammre; the 
clavicles are complete ; the bones of the legs and arms are se¬ 
parate, capable of pronation and supination ; the stomach is 
simple and membranaceous; the intestines are short, with a 
small caecum ; the orbital and temporal fossae are distinct. 
The animals of this order eat fruit, roots, and insects : they 
live upon trees—are intelligent, imitative, and active. Their 
geographical range extends to the warm parts of America, Afri¬ 
ca, and India. 
Family I.— Simle. 
The form of this family approaches that of man. The nos¬ 
trils are contiguous, separated only by a thin septum • nose 
somewhat arched in some species, and much flattened in others; 
with two pectoral teats ; with or without a tail. 
They are gravid from five to seven months, and bring forth 
from one to two at a birth. 
