36 MAMMALIA. 



attached, are strongly and firmly connected by the large scapula, the strong 

 clavicle, &c. 



Man, so highly favoured as to dexterity, is not at all so with respect to 

 strength. His swiftness in running is greatly inferior to that of other animals 

 of his size. Having neither projecting jaws, salient canine teeth, nor claws, 

 he is destitute of offensive weapons ; and the sides and upper parts of his body 

 being naked, unprovided even with hair, he is absolutely without defensive 

 ones. Of all animals, he is also the longest in attaining the power necessary 

 to provide for himself. 



This very weakness, however, is but one advantage more it compels him 

 to have recourse to that intelligence within, for which he is so eminently 

 conspicuous. 



No quadruped approaches him in the magnitude and convolutions of the 

 hemispheres of the brain, that is, in the part of this organ which is the prin- 

 cipal instrument of the intellectual operations. The posterior portion of the 

 same organ extends backwards, so as to form a second covering to the cere- 

 bellum ; the very form oj his cranium announces this magnitude of the brain, 

 while the smallness of his face shows how slightly that portion of the nervous 

 system which influences the external senses predominates in him. 



These external sensations, moderate as they all are in man, are nevertheless 

 extremely delicate and well balanced. 



His two eyes are directed forwards ; he does not see on two sides at once, 

 like many quadrupeds, which produces more unity in the result of his sight, 

 and concentrates his attention more closely on sensations of this kind. The 

 ball and iris of his eye vary but little ; this restrains the activity of his sight 

 to a limited distance, and a determinate degree of light. His external ear, 

 possessing but little mobility or extent, does not increase the intensity of 

 sounds, and yet, of all animals, he best distinguishes the various degrees of 

 intonation. His nostrils, more complicated than those of the monkey, are less 

 so than those of all other genera ; and yet he appears to be the only animal 

 whose sense of smell is sufficiently delicate to be affected by unpleasant odours. 

 Delicacy of smell must have some influence on that of taste, and, indepen- 

 dently of this, man must have some advantage in this respect over other 

 animals, over those at least whose tongues are covered with scales. Lastly, 

 the nicety of his tact results, both from the delicacy of his covering, and the 

 absence of all insensible parts, as well as from the form of his hand, which is 

 better adapted than that of any other animal for suiting itself to every little 

 superficial inequality. 



Man is pre-eminently distinguished in the organ of his voice ; of all the 

 mammalia, he alone possesses the faculty of articulating words, its probable 

 causes being tlie form of his mouth and the great mobility of his lips. From 

 this results his most invaluable mode of communication ; for of all the signs 

 which can be conveniently employed for the transmission of ideas, variations 

 of sound are those which can be perceived at the greatest distance, and are the 

 most extensive in their sphere of operation. 



The whole of his structure, even to the heart and great vessels, appear* 



