362 LAMARCK, HIS LIFE AND WORK 
ent on the state of organization occurring in each of 
them, which is not doubted, there is no occasion for 
thinking that in these same animals the order which 
is superior to all the others in organization is pro- 
portionally so also in extent of means, invariability 
of actions, and consequently in intellectual powers. 
‘For example, in the mammals which are the 
most highly organized, the Quadrumana, which form 
a part of them, have, besides the advantages over 
other mammals, a conformation in several of their 
organs which considerably increases their powers, 
which allows of a great variability in their actions, 
and which extends and even makes predominant 
their intelligence, enabling them to deal witha greater 
variety of objects with which to exercise their brain. 
It will doubtless be said: But although man may be 
a true mammal in his general structure, and although 
among the mammals the Quadrumana are most nearly 
allied to him, this will not be denied, not only that 
man is strongly distinguished from the Quadrumana 
by a great superiority of intelligence, but he is also 
very considerably so in several structural features 
which characterize him. 
‘* First, the occipital foramen being situated en- 
tirely at the base of the cranium of man and not car- 
ried up behind, as in the other vertebrates, causes 
his head to be posed at the extremity of the verte- 
bral column as on a pivot, not bowed down forward, 
his face not looking towards the ground. This posi- 
tion of the head of man, who can easily turn it to 
different sides, enables him to see better a larger 
number of objects at one time, than the much in- 
clined position of the head of other mammals allows 
them to see: 
‘“* Secondly, the remarkable mobility of the fingers 
of the hand of man, which he employs either all 
together or several together, or each separately, 
according to his pleasure, and besides, the sense of 
