448 THE MECHANICAL FUNCTIONS. 



situation to the first phalanges of the fingers and 

 toes. These are followed by a second and third set 

 of phalanges ; the last of which terminate in hoofs. 

 All ruminant quadrupeds have thus a double hoof; 

 a character which is peculiar to this family. 



Thus, then, has Nature moulded the organs of 

 progressive motion in this remarkable tribe of 

 animals to accommodate them to the peculiar con- 

 ditions of their existence, while she has still pre- 

 served their relations to the primitive type of the 

 class to which they belong. Thus has she be- 

 stowed upon them the slender and elegant forms, 

 so pleasing to the eye, which characterize the 

 fleetest races, and has provided for the agile, yet 

 firm and secure movements which they are to exer- 

 cise in various ways in eluding the observation, and 

 escaping from the pursuit of their stronger and 

 more sagacious foes. This purpose they effect, at 

 one time, by rapid flight across extensive tracts of 

 country ; at another, by retirement into unfre- 

 quented forests, or mountains of difficult access, 

 crossing their rugged surfaces in all directions, 

 clambering their precipitous acclivities, and fear- 

 lessly bounding over intervening abysses, from 

 point to point, till the place of safety is attained on 

 some rocky eminence. From this secure station 

 the Alpine Chamois looks down upon its pursuers, 

 and defies their further efforts at capture or moles- 

 tation. The astonishing feats of agility practised 

 by this animal, and by which the most experienced 

 hunters are perpetually baffled in their attempts to 

 approach it, sufficiently attest the perfection of its 

 organization in reference to all these objects. The 

 chamois has often been seen to leap down a per- 



