205 



CLASS 



MAMMALIA, 



ORDER QUADRUMANA. 



In addition to the anatomical characters peculiar 

 to the human species, already detailed in the pro- 

 per place, the animals now under consideration pre- 

 sent a very remarkable difference from man in the con- 

 formation of the lower extremities. Each of these 

 possesses a thumb, free and opposable to the other 

 toes — the toes themselves are also long and flexible, 

 and altogether similar to the fingers of the hand. In 

 consequence of this peculiarity all the species of this 

 order exhibit the utmost facility in. climbing trees, 

 but cannot sustain themselves, and much less walk 

 unsupported in an erect posture without considerable 

 difficulty; for in this position their foot rests on its 

 outer edge only : their narrow pelvis also is by no 

 means favourable to equilibrium. The intestines of 

 theQuadrumana are similar to man's — their eyes have 

 a horizontal direction— the mammse are pectoral — 

 the brain has three lobes on each side, the posterior 

 lobe forming a second covering for the cerebellum, 

 and the temporal cavities are separated from the 

 orbit by a bony partition. 



In tracing the different species of this order we 

 find that they gradually degenerate from the close 



Vol. I. Q 



