J06 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1704. 



I shall now add that of the male. But referring to Mr. Cowper*s dissection, 

 next following this paper, I shall only here observe a few things, further illus- 

 trative of the history of this animal. 



With respect to the species of this animal, having upon dissection observed 

 the penis to be fleshy, and to have no bone in it, I find it cannot be referred to 

 the dog or weazel kind, as some have thought ; and what Piso means by his 

 glires majores montani, to which he refers it, I shall not here inquire. I must 

 confess we cannot be at a certainty in this matter, unless we had a more perfect 

 enumeration and description of the several sorts of animals that are in the world ; 

 and by a strict inquiry into their inward as well as outward parts, observed, how 

 gradually they differ from one another ; by easy and gentle steps the intermediate 

 species linking the whole together. However till this can be attained, every 

 little help will contribute somewhat. 



To give therefore my thoughts on this subject, I shall here propose a division 

 of such terrestrial animals, as have several divided claws and nails, into 



Animalia X«^o-J«>cTuXa, seu manu digitata, i. e. whose feet resemble hands, 

 and have fingers rather than toes. — riolo-JaxTuAa, seu pede digitata, i. e. whose 

 digit], from the order of their position and shortness, as also uses, more re- 

 semble toes than fingers. 



For though our language makes a sufficient distinction between them, by 

 calling the one fingers, the other toes; yet the Greek and Latin do not ; for 

 #«xTvXo» and digiti signify those on the hand, and feet likewise. To dis- 

 criminate them therefore, they are obliged to add another word, as digitus man us, 

 or digitus pedis ; which sufficiently justifies our distinction of Xh^ o-^»xTuAa and 



Yloio-iocyiTvXoc. 



Now we may observe these differences between the fingers and toes, viz. 

 that the fingers are much longer, having usually a thumb set at a distance from 

 the range of the other fingers; and are so contrived, for the better holding 

 what thev have a mind to, and especially in these animals, to assist them in 

 climbing trees, &c, for , catching their prey. Whereas the toes are shorter, 

 and are set in a more even range together, and better contrived for swift run- 

 ning, by which way this other sort of animals take their prey. 



This latter sort we shall not insist on here, but rather give a subdivision of 

 the former, viz. those animals which have their feet formed like hands. Now 

 where there is a thumb, though we may esteem the hand there more perfect, 

 yet I find it is not always necessary ; for in several animals it is wanting, as will 

 appear by the following scheme ; which I propose here only as an essay or hint, 

 to be enlarged and amended by farther observations. 



