THE ANTERIOR LMBS OF QUADRUPEDS. 29 



ently of each other, for no one finger indeed 

 can be fairly doubled upon the palm by itself, 

 though it is capable of partial inflexion. The 

 stress of the fingers is directly towards the 

 palm ; but not so that of the thumb, which 

 cannot, without some effort, be brought to 

 press firmly against the palm, and even then 

 it can only be applied in a lateral position. 

 The structure of the thumb and the direction 

 of motion allotted to it render it an antagonist 

 to the fingers. It can firmly oppose its tip to the 

 tip of each finger in succession, or to the whole of 

 them at once ; and when the fingers are folded 

 upon the palm, or encircle any object, it can 

 be brought to press upon them obHquely with 

 great force, adding thereby very considerably 

 to the energy of the grasp. 



The fingers, as we have said, are of unequal 

 length, and the advantages of this irregularity 

 have often been made a subject of question. 

 The advantages are more easily appreciated 

 than explained. 'Nevertheless, if we consider 

 the multitudinous and ever-varying manipula- 

 tions which the fingers are called upon to 

 execute, we shall soon see that their uniform- 

 ity would be an imperfection. Indeed, unless 

 they were graduated as they are, they would 



