Animal Morphology. 117 



illustrate Nature's work in the order of progressive develop- 

 ment ; but the other is a more humble attempt to utilize 

 the facts after they have been acquired, and to go no further, 

 for fear, in wading too far in such delightful streams of 

 knowledge, the understanding might get out of its proper 

 depth. 



Nothing need be said in vindication of the sense of force, 

 as its discussion here would be out of its legitimate place ; 

 but it may be asked, Of what use, in contending with re- 

 sistance of a directly physical nature, is a sense that gives 

 a knowledge of the outside or superficies, as the sense of 

 touch ? Surely, if there is no sense to give knowledge of 

 gravity or resistance, we have a large locomotive apparatus 

 left without a guide to inform us of the amount or degree 

 of force which should be used in opposing resistance ; 

 and force is purely an ideal inference, if strength and power 

 are never felt in individual bodies or persons. 



The tripartite nature of this membrane needs very little 

 examination, as bone is viewed in this membrane as modified 

 mucous membrane ; the voluntary muscles belonging to the 

 jaws, spine, and limbs, are the contractile membrane ; and 

 the synovial sacs of the joints, and the articular processes of the 

 spine and condyles are the serous membrane each membrane 

 being marvellously segmented and adapted to the general 

 end of locomotion. 



The joints, and not improbably bone, in a measure, being 

 supplied chiefly with the nerves belonging to the sense of 

 force ; their distribution to muscles is much doubted, for to 

 get a true estimate of the degrees of contraction or force in 

 muscles, it would require the most diffused and minute dis- 

 tribution of nerves conceivable ; but if distributed in and 

 about joints the amount of nerve tissue required would be very 

 greatly reduced, with an equally good channel for measuring 

 and adjusting force or weight, since all force in some way or other 



