SI MAMMlf'ERdUS AXIMALS, 



grasping the;ii with their fingers. For this purpose 

 the fin2;ers are separate, free, flexible, and of a cer- 

 tain length. Man has such fingers on his hands 

 only; but Apes and some other kinds of animals have 

 them both on their hands and feet. — Only Man, 

 Apes, and Lemurs have the thumb separate, and 

 capable of being opposed to the fingers, so as to form 

 a kind of forceps. These are therefore the only ani- 

 mals that can hold moveable objects in a single 

 hand. — The others, as Squirrels^ Rats, Opossums, 

 &c. that have the fingers sufficiently small and flexi- 

 ble to enable them to take up objects, are obliged 

 to hold them in both hands. — Others, which have the 

 toes shorter, and which besides are under the neces- 

 sity of resting on the fore feet, as Dogs, and Cats, 

 can only hold substances by fixing them upon the 

 ground with their paws. — Lastly, those that have the 

 toes united and drawn together under the skin, or 

 envc Hoped in corneous hoofs, are incapable of exer- 

 cising any prehensile power. 



In order to lead the reader to some general idea of 

 the internal structure of the bodies of animals I shall 

 beo-in with the circulation. That warm and red fluid 

 called the blood flows from the heart, its common re- 

 servoir, through the frame, by a series of vessels call- 

 ed arteries, and returns by another scries denominated 

 veins. When this alternate motion ceases the con- 

 sequence is immediate death. 



The lungs of quadrupeds consist of two lobes, and 

 are placed within the thorax or chest. Lito these the 

 atmospheric air is inspired froni the mouth ; and in 



