454 MAN, PHYSICALLY CONSIDERED. 



der, even under a state of high cultivation. Nothing ft^uj, 

 be more evident than that the human race, is totally distinct 

 from all other animals. Says Lawrence, 'the human 

 species has numerous distinctive marks, by which under 

 every circumstance of deficient or imperfect civilisation, 

 and every variety of country and race, it is separated by 

 a broad and clearly denned interval from all other 

 animals.' 



The following circumstances are abundantly sufficient 

 to characterise man, and distinguish him from all other 

 animals. 



1. Smoothness of skin. There is no animal but man, 

 who is not furnished by its Creator with natural clothing. 

 Stories have been told of hairy nations, but they are un- 

 founded. A smooth skin is peculiar to the human fami- 

 ly. The monkey and the ourang outang, who have so 

 frequently and with such little cause been compared with 

 man, are nearly covered with hair, and no parts of their 

 bodies present any resemblance to the human face. 



2. Erect Stature. Man alone has an anatomical 

 structure which makes the erect posture natural to him. 

 The dog and the monkey and some other animals may 

 be taught to stand upon their hind legs, but this position 

 is about as unnatural to them, as it would be for a man 

 to stand upon his hands. No nation, or tribe, or healthy 

 individual has ever yet been found with whom the up- 

 right attitude was not natural. Whenever we find a 

 race of men running upon all fours, and a tribe of mon- 

 keys walking erect, we will admit the claims of rela- 

 tionship. 



3. Possession of two hands. The monkey is some- 

 times said to be four handed, instead of four footed. 

 ' They live chiefly in trees for which they are admirably 

 adapted by having prehensible members, instruments for 

 grasping and holding on both upper and lower extremi- 

 ties. They live in trees and find their food in them ; 

 they can hang by one fore or hind leg, employing the re- 

 maining number in gathering fruit or in other offices.' 

 The perfection of the formation of the human hand, 

 characterises man. He is the only two handed animal. 



4. Speech. Several animals may be taught to pro- 



