PARTS OF ANIMALS, IV. x. 



feet ; though even among quadrupeds the poly- 

 dactylous ones tend to use the fore hmbs not only for 

 locomotion but also instead of hands ; and this can 

 actually be seen happening : they take hold of things 

 and defend themselves with their fore limbs. (Solid- 

 hoofed animals, on the other hand, do this with their 

 hind limbs, as their forelegs have nothing that corre- 

 sponds to elbows and hands.) This explains why 

 some polydactylous quadrupeds actually have five 

 toes on their forefeet (lions, wolves, dogs and leo- 

 pards, for instance), although there are only four on 

 their hind feet : the fifth one, like the fifth ^ digit 

 on the hand, is a " big " one.^ However, the small 

 polydactylous quadrupeds have five toes on their 

 hind feet too, because they are creepers ; and this 

 gives them more nails, and so enables them to get a 

 better hold and creep up more easily to greater 

 heights and above your head. 



Between the arms in man (in other animals be- Breast. 

 tween the forelegs) is what is known as the breast. In 

 man the breast is broad, and reasonably so, for the 

 arms are placed at the side and so do not in any way 

 prevent this part from being wide. In the quadru- 

 peds, however, it is narrow, because as they walk 

 about and change their position the limbs have to be 

 extended forwards. And on this account, in quadru- 

 peds, the mammae are not on the breast. In man, 

 on the other hand, as the space here is wide, and the 

 parts around the heart need some covering, the 

 breast is fleshy in substance and the mammae 

 are placed on it and are distinct. In the male they 

 are themselves fleshy for the reason just given. In 



" Now generally called the " first." 

 And needed when the foot is used as a hand. 



77 



