THE HUMAN FRAME. 477 



decided advantages over that of tlie monkey, with 

 reference to the specific objects of its formation. 



It is impossible to doubt that nature intended 

 man to assume the erect attitude, when we advert 

 to the mode in which the head is placed on the 

 spinal column. The enormous developement of the 

 brain, and of the bones which invest it, increases 

 so considerably the weight of that part of the head, 

 which is situated behind its articulation with the 

 vertebrae of the neck, that the balance of the whole 

 is much more equal than it is in the monkey, where 

 the weight of the fore part greatly preponderates. 

 The muscles which bend the head back upon the 

 neck, and retain it in its natural position, are there- 

 fore not required to be so powerful as they must be 

 in quadrupeds, especially in those M'hich graze, and 

 in which the mouth and eyes must frequently be 

 directed downwards for the purpose of procuring 

 food. In man this attitude would, if continued, be 

 extremely fatiguing, from the weakness of those 

 muscles, and the absence of that strong ligament 

 which sustains the weight of the head in the ordi- 

 nary horizontal attitude of quadrupeds. 



" Pronaque cum spectant animalia ceetera terram, 



Os homini sublime dedit, calumque tueri 



Jussit, et erectos ad sidera tollere vultus." — Ovid. 



The space comprehended by the two feet is ex- 

 tremely narrow, when compared with the extended 

 base on which the quadruped is supported : hence 

 the stability of the body must be considerably less. 

 The statue of an elephant placed on a level surface, 

 w^ould stand without danger of oversetting ; but the 

 statue of a man resting on the feet, in the usual atti- 



