20 



VARIETIES OF THE HUMAN RACE. 



Distribution of the Human Races on the Face of the Globe, 

 according to the Animal Kingdom of Cuvier. 



The order of the Bimana, easily distinguished by the ex- 

 istence of hands at the anterior extremities only, and by the 

 presence of three kinds of teeth, is composed of but one genus, 

 embracing but one species. Man is the only mammiferous 

 animal truly biped. His feet, likewise, afford a base of sup- 

 port larger than in any other animal. The great width of 

 the pelvis, by separating the thighs and feet, gives the body 

 a pyramidal form very favourable to equilibrium. The head 

 is also naturally in equilibrium in the vertical position ; but 

 even if he wished, man could not walk on all fours. The 

 foot is too short and almost inflexible, and the thigh being 

 too long would bring the knee towards the ground. The 

 fore limbs, being too wide apart, and too weak, and shorter 

 than the hinder ones, would be obliged to support the enor- 

 mous weight of the head and chest, and even part of that of 

 the pelvis. The want of a cervical ligament and the little 

 subdivision among the arteries which lead to the brain would 

 subject him to frequent apoplexies. Moreover in this posi- 

 tion he would lose that activity and delicacy of touch which 

 is so valuable — touch the most exact instrument which intel- 

 ligence employs. His eyes would be continually turned 

 towards the earth, and the nostrils to the rear. On the con- 

 trary, in the biped position man resumes all his advantages. 

 Nevertheless, if we examine him as an isolated being and 

 simply in a physical view, he will appear to us the most 

 unfortunate of animals. He has neither offensive nor defen- 

 sive weapon ; his naked skin is exposed as well to the burn- 

 ing heat of the sun as to the rigorous cold of winter. What 



