MAMMALIA. 45 



faction in man, in whom the whole anterior extremity is free and 

 capable of prehension. 



These various combinations, which strictly determine the nature 

 of the different mammalia, have given rise to the following orders: 



ORDER I. 

 BIMANA(l). 



Man forms but one genus, and that genus the only one of its 

 order. As his history is the more directly interesting to ourselves, 

 and forms the point of comparison to which we refer that of other 

 animals, we will speak of it more in detail. 



We will rapidly sketch every thing that is peculiar in each of 

 his organic systems, amidst all that he shares in common with other 

 Mammalia; we will examine the advantages he derives from these 

 peculiarities over other species; we will describe the principal varie- 

 ties of his race and their distinguishing characters, and finally point 

 out the natural order in which his individual and social faculties are 

 developed. 



Peculiar Conformation of Man. 



The foot of Man is very different from that of the Monkey; it is large; 

 the leg bears vertically upon it; the heel is expanded beneath; the toes 

 are short, and but slightly flexible; the great toe, longer and larger than 

 the rest, is placed on the same line with, and cannot be opposed to them. 

 This foot, then, is peculiarly well adapted to support the body; but cannot 

 be used for seizing or climbing, and as the hands are not calculated for 

 walking, Man is the only true bimanous and biped animal. 



The whole body of Man is arranged with a view to a vertical position. 

 Were he to desire it, Man could not, with convenience, walk on all fours; 

 his short and nearly inflexible feet, and his long thigh, would bring the 

 knee to the ground; his widely separated shoulders and his arms, too far 

 extended from the median line, would ill support the upper portion of 

 his body. The great indented muscle, which, in quadrupeds, suspends, 

 as in a girth, the body between the scapulae, is smaller in Man than in any 

 one among them. The head is also heavier, both from the magnitude of 

 the brain and the smallness of the sinuses or cavities of the bones; and yet 



(1) Animals with two hands. 



