34 MAMMALIA. BIMANA. 



limited aims than reason, bears, however, no proportion to the gene- 

 ral intelligence of the animals which exercise it ; for it has been re- 

 marked, that those in whom the instinctive propensity displays the 

 greatest seeming wisdom and contrivance^ are upon other occasions 

 remarkably deficient in sagacity. 



The physical structure of Man also widely separates him from 

 the other portions of the mammiferous class. But these varia- 

 tions in form and proportion are neither so prominent nor so to- 

 tally different in character from the other animal structures, as to. 

 account for the superiority which he enjoys. Destined to be nou- 

 rished on substances used in common by other animals, the mecha- 

 nism of his frame must so far correspond with theirs, as to be able 

 to convert these substances to the fluids which support his animal 

 life ; and his organs of sensation must necessarily be analogous in 

 some degree to those of beings on whom the material world is des- 

 tined to make similar impressions. But no material organs which 

 Man possesses, abstracted from the mind of which they are but the 

 instruments, can account for his intellectual supremacy; and all 

 those hypotheses which would trace Man's intellectual and moral 

 powers from the absolute or relative size of the brain or other ma- 

 terial organs, have miserably failed in connecting mind with mattery 

 or thought with organic structure. 



The structure of the human frame, however, is wonderfully adap- 

 ted to the various purposes for which it is destined ; and even phy- 

 sically considered, seems the worthy habitation of a being placed at 

 the head, and with the control, of animated nature. Man, indeed, 

 considered as an animal, is the only one which walks erect in a verti- 

 cal position ; the only one with hands at the anterior extremity, 

 distinct from the organs of locomotion, and free for executing his 

 purposes ; and no other has like him vertical incisive teeth in 

 the lower jaw and a projecting chin. Contrary to what is found 

 in any other mammiferous animal, the structure of his body demon- 

 strates that man is destined to walk erect. The foot is entirely 

 different from the posterior hands of apes, and furnishes a larger 

 and firmer base than that of any other animal. In relation to the 

 foot the leg holds a rectangular or vertical position. The muscles 

 which hold the foot and thigh in an extended state are extreme- 

 ly vigorous, and produce the projection of the calf and the thick- 

 ening of the buttock. The flexors of the leg are attached very high 

 to allow the extension of the knee. The pelvis is large, which, be- 

 sides separating the extremities widely, gives a pyramidal form to 

 the trunk favourable to equilibrium ; and the articulation of the 

 head is strictly central in relation to its own bulk. 



It would be impossible for Man, even if he desired it, to walk 

 on the four extremities, his feet being short and almost inflexible, 

 and the great length of his thigh would bring his knee to the ground. 

 His shoulders, also, being too much separated, and his arms too far 

 extended from the central line, would form a very ineffectual sup- 

 port for th.e upper part of the body. The great muscle, which, in 



