BIMANA, 45 
derives from these peculiarities over other species; we will 
describe the principal varieties of his race and their distin- 
euishing 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 can- 
not 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 po- 
sition. His feet, as just mentioned, furnish him with a base more 
extensive than that of any other of the Mammalia. The muscles 
which extend the foot and thigh are more vigorous, whence pro- 
ceeds the projection of the calf and buttock; the flexors of the leg 
are inserted higher up, which allows full extension of the knee, and 
renders the calf more apparent. The pelvis is wider, hence a greater 
separation of the thighs and feet, and that pyramidal form of the 
body so favourable to equilibrium. The necks of the thigh bones 
form an angle with the body of the bone, which increases, still 
more, the separation of the feet, and augments the basis of the 
body. Finally, the head in this vertical position is in equilibrium 
on the body, because its articulation is exactly under the middle of 
its mass. , 
Were he to desire it, Man could not, with convenience, walk on 
all fours; his short and nearly inflexible foot, and his Jong thigh, 
would bring the knee to the ground; his widely separated shoulders 
and his arms, too far extended from the median line, would ill sup- 
port the upper portion of his body. The great indented muscle, 
which, in quadrupeds, suspends, as in a girth, the body between the 
scapulz, is smaller in Man than in any one among them. The head 
is also heavier, both from the magnitude of the brain and the small-» » 
ness of the sinuses or cayities of the bones; and yet, the means of 
supporting it are weaker, for Be has neither cervical me onan nor 
are his vertebre so ar ranged ‘as to prevent their flexure forwards; 
the result of this wo ld be, that he could only keep his head in the 
same line with the spine, and then his eyes and mouth being directed 
towards the earth, he could not see before’ him;—in the erect posi- 
ys 
