ANTERIOR LIMBS OF BIRDS, ETC. 93 



for tlie investigation of certain of the proper- 

 ties of matter — but, on the contrary, modelled 

 for very different purposes. Yet, as all the 

 vertebrate animals are endowed with the sense 

 of tact, (in contradistinction to that of mere 

 feeling,) more or less nice and accurate, as 

 may be required, and resident in some part or 

 organ most suited to their wants and habits, 

 we shall proceed, in continuation, to show 

 some of the more interesting substitutes, rude 

 though they may be, for the human hand, at 

 once a grasper, a nice manipulator, and an 

 organ of most refined touch. 



It may be here said that we have made no 

 definite remarks on the limbs of insects, or any 

 of the lower orders of creation. We have not ; 

 for when we leave the vertebrate series, a strict 

 structural comparison cannot be maintained. 

 We are presented with forms of life on a dif- 

 ferent plan. We cannot compare them with 

 animals endowed with a true spinal cord, 

 a skull, a spinal column, and an internal 

 skeleton. 



Yet if any of these lower forms require our 

 attention for a few moments before we proceed 

 with our main design, it is the group of insects, 

 so popularly termed, or, more strictly, the 



