NATURAL HISTORY. 1J 



: All are but parts of one stupendous whole, 

 Whose body nature is, and God the soul.&quot; POPE. 



itself to every shape, and gives it that complete dominion which it 

 possesses over the various forms of matter. 



21. Why is the hand divided into several parts ? 



Being thus constructed the hand is capable of applying a 

 portion or the whole of its functions, according to the size, form, 

 and weight of the object it designs to handle. 



22. Thus the smallest things we take up with the tips of our fingers; those 

 which are a little larger we take up with the same fingers, but not with the tips ol 

 them ; substances still larger we take up with three fingers, and so on with four or 

 all the five fingers, or even with the whole hand ; all which we could not do were 

 not the hand divided, and divided precisely as it is. 



23. Why are the hands made equal to and inclined towards 

 each other ? 



Because when bodies of a great weight and large size are to be 

 grasped on opposite sides, it is necessary that the instruments which 

 lift them should be capable of this combined action. 



24. Why are the extremities of the fingers soft and round ? 



If they had been otherwise formed, or made of bone in 

 stead of flesh, we could not then lay hold of such minute bodies aa 

 thorns or hairs. For, in order that a body may be firmly held, it is 

 necessary that it be in some degree enfolded in the substance 

 holding it ; which condition could not have been fulfilled by a 

 hard or bony material. 



25. Why are the fingers of an unequal length ? 



This difference in the length of the fingers serves innu 

 merable purposes in connection with the arts and ordinary opera 

 tions of life ; thus a pen, a pencil, a brush, an engraving tool, a 

 sword, a hammer, &c., may be more securely grasped, and used with 

 greater facility ; for if the fingers were of an equal length, one would 

 get in the way of the other, and pravent the whole from performing 

 their office properly. 



