MAMMALIA. 31 



for besides the form of the molar teeth, they differ materially 

 among themselves in the mobility and delicacy of their toes or 

 fingers. There is one characteristic, however, which exercises 

 a mighty influence on the dexterity of the animals possessed of 

 it, and which multiplies or greatly varies their modes of action. 

 This is the faculty of opposing a thumb to the other fingers, 

 and of thus being enabled to seize with facility the most minute 

 objects. This opposition of a fifth member to the other four con- 

 stitutes what is properly called the hand, an organ which is 

 carried to the highest degree of perfection in Man, in whom 

 alone the anterior extremities are free. 



From these various combinations, which strictly determine 

 the nature of the different mammiferous animals, Cuvier has 

 arranged the Class into the following Orders. 



I. BIMANA, (with two hands) of which man is the type 

 and only species, is at the head of the unguiculated species, and 

 is distinguished zoologically by possessing hands at the anterior 

 extremities, the posterior being employed to sustain him erect, 

 and three kinds of teeth. 



II. QUADRUMANA, with four hands at the four extremities, 

 and three kinds of teeth. 



III. CARNIVORA, Carnivorous, or feeding more or less on 

 animal food. This order has no thumb capable of free motion 

 and opposable to the toes ; three kinds of teeth. It is divided 

 into four families, viz. Cheiroptera, Jnsectivora, Carnivora, 

 and Marsupialia. 



IV. RODENTIA, or Gnawers: (Glires, Lin.) The animals 

 .of this order have the extremities little different from those of 

 the carnivora ; but they want the canine teeth, and their inci- 

 sors are adapted to a kind of mastication peculiar to themselves. 



V. EDENTATA, without teeth. This order includes animals 

 which have no incisors, or cutting teeth ; some of them even 

 want the canine teeth ; and others have none at all. Besides 

 this their toes are contracted and buried in large and often 

 crooked nails. 



This distribution of the unguiculated animals would be per- 

 fect, and would form a regular series, if New Holland had not 

 recently furnished a collateral chain composed of animals with 



