AMPHIBIOUS QUADRUPEDS. 



two or three more, which are so remarkable as to 

 deserve peculiar attention. 



It has been often remarked, that all animals 

 are sagacious in proportion to the size of their 

 brain. It has, in support of this opinion, been 

 alleged, that man, with respect to his bulk, has of 

 all others the largest. In pursuance of this as- 

 sumption, some erroneous speculations have been 

 formed. But were the size of the brain to de- 

 termine the quantity of the understanding, the 

 seal would of all other animals be the most saga- 

 cious ; for it has, in proportion, the largest brain 

 of any, even man himself not excepted. How- 

 ever, this animal is possessed of but very few ad- 

 vantages over other quadrupeds ; and the size of 

 its brain furnishes it with few powers that contri- 

 bute to its wisdom or its preservation. 



This animal differs also in the formation of its 

 tongue from all other quadrupeds. It is forked 

 or slit at the end like that of serpents ; but for 

 what purpose it is thus singularly contrived we 

 are at a loss to know. We are much better in- 

 formed with respect to a third singularity in its 

 conformation, which is, that the foramen ovale in 

 the heart is open. Those who are in the least 

 acquainted with anatomy know, that the veins 

 uniting bring their blood to the heart, which 

 sends it into the lungs, and from thence it returns 

 to the heart again, to be distributed through the 

 whole body. Animals, however, before they are 

 born, make no use of their lungs ; and therefore 

 their blood, without entering their lungs, takes a 

 shorter passage through the very partition of the 



