536 



THE MECHANICAL FUNCTIONS. 



no large projection, as in other orders of mam- 

 malia ; nor are the muscles that are inserted 

 into the heel particularly powerful ; they hardly, 

 indeed, can be said to compose a calf as in the 

 human leg. 



§ 12. 3Ian. 



The series of structures modelled on the charac- 

 teristic type of the Mammalia, after having ex- 

 hibited the successive developement of all its 

 elements, attains the highest perfection in the 

 human fabric : for even independently of those 

 prerogatives of intellect and of sensibility, by 

 w^liich Man is so far exalted above the level of 

 the brute creation, both his physical structure 

 and his physiological constitution place him in- 

 contestibly at the summit of the scale of terres- 

 trial beings. Considered zoologically, indeed, 

 the human species must rank among the Mam- 

 malia, and it even makes a near approach to 

 tlie Quadrumana ; yet there exist many peculia- 

 rities of structure, which entitle Man to be placed 

 in a separate order, where disclaiming any close 

 alliance with inferior creatures, he proudly 

 stands alone, towering far above them all. 



It is not, however, on a pre-eminence in any 

 single physical quality or function that this title 



