40 NATURAL HISTORY 



He adapts the instinctive principle to the situation or to the whim. 

 He must eat ; hut he varies the mode of eating : he takes the ad- 

 vantage of circumstances and applies them ; he takes the advantage of all 

 nature. Each bird builds its nest in a way peculiar to the species ; 

 Man builds his, but he does it in a way most siutable to the situation 

 or pleasure. 



Nothing shows more the superiority of the Human over the brute, 

 than the variety of ways in which he shall perform any natural and 

 instinctive action. 



Superiority of Man according to Frame. 



Every circumstance in life, and most things in the structure of the 

 body, show that it was intended by Nature that the Human body should 

 be, in general, erect, especially in its progressive motion. The position 

 of the face ; the shape of the chest, being wider from side to side than 

 in animals which are horizontal; the spine projecting forwards in the 

 thorax so as to throw part of the chest behind, and the different curves 

 of the column, with the head at the upper part, to break the force of 

 concussion in walking, jumping, &c. ; the pyramidal figure of the 

 whole spine ; no ' ligamentum nucha? ' to supersede muscular contrac- 

 tion ; the strong attachment of the os sacrum to the ossa ilii ; the great 

 disproportion of the length of the legs and arms (excepting he had 

 been a jumping animal) ; the length of foot is also a strong proof of 

 the erect position. 



Nothing can be more absurd, more unphilosophical and more un- 

 graceful, than the satyrs of the ancients. 



The erect position of Man is probably the worst calculated for either 

 natural offence or defence of any animal posture. His body becomes 

 wholly exposed : it is even unfit for resisting the force of either wind or 

 water. But, at the same time, we must allow that it is the best cal- 

 culated for artificial defence ; it is more capable of bringing in aids to 

 this end : the arms are at liberty : the whole body can move on the 

 feet as on a centre to increase the action of offence or defence. 



Of the Use of the Feet in Man. 



The use of the length of foot in the Human is to increase the basis 

 from the fore to the back parts : the two feet increase it laterally. 

 They add to the length of the step, and they are to the legs what fellies 

 are to a wheel, which are to make the whole go more equally round ; they 

 serve therefore to make our steps more equal. This is evident by com- 

 paring the walk of a man with wooden legs with that of one having a 



