34 CLASS I. MAMMALIA. 



derive an easier and less precarious subsistence from their 

 milk and flesh, than from the products of the chase. He 

 rears, therefore, numerous herds of these animals, and being 

 only occupied in finding them pasturage and shelter, is com- 

 paratively at leisure to apply himself to some of the arts of 

 civilized life. He manufactures clothing from their skins and 

 wool, of various degrees of delicacy and elegance. He builds 

 himself more commodious habitations; and from the different 

 degrees of industry and skill, with which different individual? 

 apply themselves to these occupations, arises an inequality of 

 conditions. Some become rich, and others comparative!} 

 poor. The rich acquire a disposition to indulge in the com 

 forts and luxuries of life, and this is found to be inconsistent 

 with the wandering and unsettled life which they lead as mere 

 shepherds. Hence they are induced to fix themselves perma- 

 nently upon particular tracts of country, which come to be con- 

 sidered as their property ; and thus they gradually devote them- 

 selves to the cultivation of the soil. This enables a given 

 portion of land to support a much greater number of people, 

 than when it was devoted to the feeding of herds ; and, hence, 

 as agriculture becomes established, the population of a coun- 

 try regularly increases. Society also becomes settled and 

 permanent. Every individual is able to produce more by his 

 own labor, than is sufficient for his own support, and some 

 therefore devote themselves to other occupations, the results of 

 which they exchange with the laborer for his surplus. Nations 

 also exchange with one another their superfluities. Thus com- 

 merce is established ; and the arts and elegancies of life are 

 one by one brought to light, as the growing wealth of indi- 

 viduals and nations creates a demand for them. 



II. The Quadrumana, as has been before observed, 

 approach more nearly to man, both in their internal structure 

 and external form, than any other animal. They differ, how- 

 ever, in the size and shape of the head, which is proportion- 

 ably smaller, narrower, and less elevated ; in the conforma- 

 tion of the face, which has a flat, depressed nose, and very 

 prominent jaws and teeth ; in the length of the fore-arm : 

 and in the construction of the lower extremities, which are 

 not calculated for the erect posture, and are furnished with 

 hands, instead of feet like those of men. Their structure fits 

 them evidently for climbing, and their usual places of habita- 

 *ion are trees, on the fruits of which they feed. They main- 

 tain the erect position with difficulty ; it is a constrained one, 

 since it obliges them to straighten the joints of the hip more 



