28 NATURAL HISTORY OF MAN. 



LESSON III. 



ORDER OP BIMANA. The only species, man, Anatomical 

 characters which distinguish the body of man fiom that of the 

 other mammalia. Hands. Feet. Station. Brain. Human 

 Races. 



ORDER OF BIMANA. 



1. The order of Bimana two-handed easily distinguished 

 from the rest of the class of mammalia, by the existence of hands, 

 on the thoracic extremities only, and by many other anatomical 

 characters, is composed of but one genus embracing one species 

 only: 



MAN. HOMO. 



2. Our organization differs very little from that of a great num- 

 ber of other mammalia; the functions of the life of nutrition are 

 carried on in the same manner in them as with us, and the struc- 

 ture of the organs of our senses presents only a few peculiarities ; 

 but still man is placed at an immense distance from all other 

 animals, and what especially distinguishes him, is that wonderful 

 intelligence with which he is endowed, and the possession of an 

 immortal soul. 



The principal physical differences which distinguish man, are: 



3. 1. The great devel)f>ernent of his bram, which produces 

 the prominence of his forehead. 



4. 2. The conformation of his hands. The thoracic extremi- 

 ties of man are disposed in the most favourable manner for the 

 exercise of their functions as organs of prehension and touch : the 

 lingers are long and flexible ; they all have the power of moving 

 separately and distinctly one from the other, which is not the 

 case in other animals, not even with those that possess hands. 

 The thumb, which is opposable to them, is much longer in pro- 

 portion than in monkeys, and, consequently, more readily ap- 

 plied to the extremity of the palmar face of the other fingers, 

 .and better enabled to take hold of small objects. The nails only 

 cover the dorsal faces of the extremities of the fingers, and they 



1. What is the meaning of the word Bimana? How are the Bimana 

 distinguished ? How many genera and species compose the order Bimana? 



2. Does the organization of the Bimana essentially differ from that of the 

 mammalia ? What especially distinguishes man from all other animals ? 



3. How does the brain of man differ from that of the other mammalia? 



4. What are the peculiarities of the hand of man ? 



