MAMMALIA QUADRTJMANA. 367 



joints, in general, adapted to a greater variety of movements. 

 All these provisions are evidently directed to confer great 

 freedom and facility of motion, and to enlarge the sphere of 

 action of the body generally, as well as of the limbs. 



§ 11. Quadrumana. 



We may trace in the series of quadrupeds which have 

 come under our review, a gradual increase in the develop- 

 ment of the hind feet: beginning from the horse, which is 

 single hoofed, or solipede; next to which rank, the cloven- 

 footed ruminants, a tribe which includes the camel, whose 

 foot is widely expanded, for the purpose of treading secure- 

 ly on sand; then come the Rhinoceros, which has three 

 hoofed toes; the Hippopotamus, which has four; and the 

 Elephant, which has five. To these succeed another series, 

 where nails, or claws, are substituted for hoofs, as is the case 

 with all the Carnivora, which, standing on the extremities 

 of their toes, have been termed Digitigrades. Then follow 

 the Plantigrade quadrupeds, such as the bear, the badger, 

 the hedgehog and the mole, which rest with the whole foot 

 on the ground, and are, in consequence, able to make great 

 use of their fore paws. These conduct us to the family of 

 the Quadrumana^ comprehending the Monkey and the Le- 

 mur tribes, which are characterized by having the inner toe 

 quite distinct from the others, like the human thumb, and 

 which appear, therefore, as if they had four hands. 



The Quadrumana present the nearest approximation to the 

 human structure: they are naturally inhabitants of the forest, 

 and their conformation is adapted to the actions of climbing 

 upon trees, of grasping the branches, and of springing from 

 the one to the other, with precision and agility. It is here 

 that they are at home; it is here that they gather the food 

 which is most suited to their nature; it is here that they en- 

 gage in successful combats with serpents and other enemies; 

 retaining their positions in perfect security on the moving 



