VIEWS ON THE EVOLUTION OF MAN 262 
touch highly developed at the extremity of these 
same fingers, enables him to judge the nature of the 
bodies which surround him, to recognize them, to 
make use of them-—means which no other animals 
possess to such a degree. 
‘Thirdly, by the state of his organization man is 
able to hold himself up and walk erect. He has, for 
this attitude which is natural to him, large muscles 
at the lower extremities which are adapted to this 
end, and it would thus be as difficult to walk ha- 
bitually on his four extremities as it would be for 
the other mammals, and even for the Quadrumana, 
to walk so habitually erect on the soles of their feet. 
*“ Moreover, man is not truly quadrumanous; for 
he has not, like the monkeys, an almost equal facil- 
ity in using the fingers of his feet, and of seizing 
objects with them. In the feet of man the thumbs 
are not in opposition to the other fingers to use in 
grasping, as in monkeys, etc. 
““T appreciate all these reasons, and I see that 
man, although near the Quadrumana, is so distinct 
that he alone represents a separate order, belonging 
to a single genus and species, offering, however, 
many different varieties. This order may be, if it 
is desired, that of the Bzmana. 
“ However, if we consider that all the character- 
istics which have been cited are only differences in 
degree of structure, may we not suppose that this 
special condition of organization of man has been 
gradually acquired at the close of a long period of 
time, with the aid of circumstances which have proved 
favorable ?* WNhata subject for reflection for those 
who have the courage to enter into it! 
“Tf the Quadrumana have not the occipital open- 
ing situated directly at the base of the cranium as in 
man, it is assuredly much less raised posteriorly than 
* Author’s italics. 
