28 VERTSBRATE8. 



CHAPTEE III. 



DlVISIOlf I.— VERTEBRATES. 



CLASS I. — MAMMALS. 

 ORDER II — FOOT-HANDED AND HAND-WINGED ANIMALS. 



The Foot-handed Animals approach more nearly to mau, 

 in their internal structure and external form, than any others. 

 They diflFer, however, in the size and shape of the head, which is 

 proportionably smaller, narrower, and less elevated ; in the con- 

 formation of the face, which has a flat, depressed nose, and very 

 prominent jaws and teeth; in the length of the fore-arm; and in 

 the construction of the lower extremities, which are not calculated 

 for the erect posture, and are furnished with hands, instead of feet 

 like those of men. Their structure fits them evidently for climb- 

 ing, and their usual places of habitation are trees, on the fruits 

 of which they feed. They maintain the erect position with diffi- 

 culty; it is a constrained one, since it obliges them to straighten 

 the joints of the hip more than is easy or natural, and to rest theii 

 weight upon the outer edges of their feet or hind hands. Gene- 

 rally, then, they employ all four of their limbs in walking or run- 

 ning; but their motions, when upon the ground, are very various 

 and irregular. 



They form a numerous tribe, and comprehend a great variety 

 of species, known under the name of apes, baboons, monkeys, 

 lemurs, etc. These names are generally employed with little dis- 

 crimination, but they are intended to point out some general differ- 

 ences of form. Thus, the apes are destitute of a tail ; that of the 

 baboons is a very short one ; and that of the monkeys is about the 

 length of their bodies. Besides these, which are confined to the 

 old continent, there are those belonging to the new world, which 

 have all long tails ; and these are, in many instances, of so much 



