1826.] Land Bears of Water Original? 389' 



oesslty of posterior extremities, and allows of the proper shape for 

 swimming. 



The two lateral fins, which are analagous to the anterior extremities 

 in the quadruped, are commonly small — varying, however, in size, and 

 seem to serve as a kind of oars. 



The element in which they live renders some parts, which are of im- 

 portance to other animals, useless to them ; gives to some parts a dif- 

 ferent action ; and renders others of less account. 



The tongue is flat, and but little projecting, as they neither have 

 voice, nor require much action of this part in placing the food between 

 the teeth ; being nearly similar to Jish in this respect, as well as in their 

 progressive motion. 



The bones alone, in many animals, when properly united into what ia 

 called the skeleton, give the general shape and character of the animal. 

 Thus, a quadruped is distinguished from a bird, and even one quadruped 

 from another ; it only requiring a skin to be thrown over the skeleton, 

 to make the species known : but this is not so decidedly the case in this 

 order of animals ; for the skeleton, in them, does not give us the true 

 shape. An immense head, a small neck, few ribs, and, in many, a short 

 sternum, and no pelvis, with along spine, terminating in a point, require 

 more than a skin laid over them, in order to give the regular and charac- 

 teristic form of the animal. The bones of the anterior extremity give 

 no idea of the shape of the fins, the form of which wholly depends 

 upon its covering. The different parts of the skeleton are so inclosed, 

 and the spaces between the projecting parts are so filled up, as to bei 

 altogether concealed; giving the animal externally an uniform and 

 elegant form, resembling an insect enveloped in its coat. 



The composition of the bones is similar to that of the bones of qua- 

 drupeds. They consist in an animal substance, and an earth that is not 

 animal ; and which two substances seem to be only mechanically mixed ; 

 or rather, the earth thrown into the interstices of the mechanical part. 

 In the bones ofjis/ies this does not seem to be the case ; the earth, in 

 many instances, being so chemically united with the animal part, that the 

 whole, while undecomposed, is transparent. 



The two fins are analogous to the anterior extremities of the quadruped, 

 and are also somewhat similar in construction. A fin is composed of a 

 scapula, OS humeri, ulna, radius, carpus, and metacarpus ; in which last 

 may be included the Jingers — they have nothing analogous to the thumb. 

 From all these observations we may infer, that the structure, arrange- 

 ment, and the union of the bones, which compose the forms or parts 

 in this order of animals, are much upon the same principle as in qua- 

 drupeds. 



The flesh, or muscles, of this order of animals is red, resembUng that 

 of quadrupeds; perhaps more like that of the bull, or of the horse, than 

 of any other animal. 



" The blood," says Mr. Hunter, " of the animals of this order is, I 

 believe, similar to that of quadrupeds ; but I have an idea that the red 

 globules are in larger proportion. I will not pretend to determine how far 

 this may assist in keeping up the animal heat ; but, as these animals may 

 be said to live in a very cold climate or atmosphere, and such as readily 

 carries off heat from the body, they may want some help of this kind." 



" This tribe differs from Jish in ha\nng the red blood carried to the 

 extreme |>arts of the body, similar to that of the quadruped." 



