198 VESTIGES OF THE 



natural system, and consequently throws a difficulty and 

 doubt in the way of our investigating it. With these 

 preliminary remarks, I shall proceed to inquire what is 

 the natural status of man. 



That man's place is to be looked for in the class mam- 

 malia and sub-kingdom vertebrata admits of no doubt, 

 from his possessing both the characters on which these 

 divisions are founded. When we descend, however, 

 below the class, we find no settled views on the subject 

 amongst naturalists. Mr. Swainson, wdio alone has 

 given a review of the animal kingdom on the Macleay 

 system, unfortunately writes on this subject in a manner 

 which excites a suspicion as to his judgment. His 

 arrangement of the first or typical order of the mam- 

 malia is therefore to be received with great hesitation. 

 It is as follows : — 



Typical . Quaclrumana . Pre-eminently organised for grasping. 



Sub-typical Fcrse . . Claws retractile ; carnivorous. 



Natatorial Cetacea . . Pre-eminently aquatic ; feet very sliorL 



Suctorial . Glires . . Muzzle lengthened and pointed. 



Easorial . Ungulata . Crests and other processes on the head. 



He then takes the quadrumana, and places it in the 

 following arrangement : — 



He considers the simiadae as a complete circle, and 

 argues thence that there is no room in the i-ange of the 

 animal kingdom for man. Man, he says, is not a con- 

 stituent part of any circle, for, if he were, there ought 

 to be other animals on each hand having affinity to him, 

 whereas there are none, the resemblance of the ourangs 



