OF MANHOOD. 459 



the wings of birds. The monkey tribe are the 

 only animals which have arms and hands ; but 

 their ftrudure is more rude, and their propor- 

 tion lefs exad than thole of man ; his fhoulders 

 are likewife larger, and differently conftruded 

 from thofe of any other animal ; and it is on 

 the top of the (houlders that he can bear the 

 heavicft burdens. 



The form of the back differs not much from 

 that of fome quadrupeds ; the region of the 

 reins is indeed more, mufcular and ftrong. But 

 the buttocks are peculiar to the human body ; 

 the thighs of quadrupeds are often raiftaken for 

 the buttocks, though they be totally different. 

 Man being the only animal who can'fupport 

 himfelf perfe<a;ly ered, the fwelling, or cufliion 

 on the top of his thighs, is neceffary to fuftain 

 him in that pofture. 



The human foot is very different from that 

 of all other animals, the monkey not excepted. 

 The foot of the ape is rather a kind of hand ; 

 its toes are long, and fituatcd like fingers, the 

 middle one bemg by much the longed ; and it has 

 no heel. The fole of the foot is likewife larger 

 in man, and his toes are better adapted for pre- 

 ferving the equilibrium of the body in walking, 

 running, dancing, and other movements. 



The human nails are lefs than thofe of other 

 animals. If they protruded much beyond the 

 points of the fingers, they would obftru<£t the 

 dexterity of the hand. Thofe lavages who al- 

 low 



