Bimana. MAMMALIA. Bimana. 3 
over nearly the same ground on the same principle of 
zoologists ; and we have therefore dwelt upon it here at 
careful and conscientious investigation, in order, if pos- 
considerable length, feeling that, although the require- 
sible, to obtain results which shall either confirm the 
merits of a popular scientific work compel us to follow 
views advanced by him, or show in what manner some 
as closely as possible those opinions which are most 
fallacy may have crept into his generalizations. There 
generally entertained, the reader might fairly charge us 
can be no doubt that although this classification may 
with neglect if we omitted to place before him some 
not eventually be adopted as a whole, it must exercise 
account of a system which has justly acquired so much 
an important influence on the views of succeeding 
celebrity. 
Order I.- 
-BIMANA. 
Although it cannot be denied that man, in his 
method, in so far as to revive the order of Primates for 
physical relations, is a member of the zoological series, 
the reception of man and the monkeys — an intimate 
and, as such, must occupy a place in our classification. 
collocation of the human species with the lower ani- 
it is not our intention, nor indeed is it compatible with 
mals which is exceedingly congenial to the views of 
the general scope of the present work, to enter at any 
those who hold the doctrine of the progressive develop- 
length upon the consideration of the natural history of 
merit of species, or the gradual production of one 
the human race. The study of this subject is far from 
species from another, by virtue of a law of development 
being a purely zoological investigation. It includes a 
pervading all nature. 
careful examination of the political history of mankind. 
Independently of purely intellectual considerations, 
from the earliest reliable records down to our own days. 
and of the comparative bulk of the brain which is 
in order that the student may acquire some notion of 
connected therewith, and which of itself, with its con- 
the migrations performed by different races or varieties 
comitant effects upon the size of the skull and pro- 
of men, and the consequent displacements and inter- 
portionately smaller development of the facial bones. 
mixtures that have taken place. The moral and Intel- 
would suffice to distinguish Man, even zoologically, from 
lectual qualities of the various races have also to be 
the rest of the Mammalia — we have to remark the per- 
taken into consideration ; and, of late years especially. 
feet organization of every human being for an upright 
the comparison of different languages, both as regards 
position, involving, as this does, great changes in all 
their verbal and grammatical accordance and diver- 
parts of the body. The foot is constructed so that the 
sity, has justly been regarded as affording a most 
whole sole may be applied to the ground, forming with 
valuable clue to guide the investigator in the laby- 
its arched instep a suj)port at once firm and elastic. 
rinth of tribes and nations. It is evident that a 
The hones of the shank and atflde are so arranged as 
subject embracing such various investigations, and 
to confer great firmness and a certain amount of mobility 
entering into the domain of zoology only by its physical 
upon the foot ; the knee is large and powerful, the 
aspect, cannot, with any propriety, be considered merely 
thigh long and very muscular, and the pelvis large. 
as a branch of zoological inquiry ; and of late years 
stiong, and changed in its position so as to allow the 
the study of the natural history of man has been 
whole lower limb to be brought under the centre of 
universally admitted to the rank of a distinct science. 
gravity of the body. In all these respects we find a 
under the name of Ethnology, or the science of races. 
greaf difference between man and the apes, which. 
If the reader will apply to himself the aphorism 
being adapted for passing their existence in trees, have 
“ Nosce te ipsum,” the only character which Linnseus 
the hinder limbs far shorter than in the human subject. 
deigns to give of his Homo sapiens, although in a some- 
the position of the pelvis different, and the articulations 
what different sense from that in which it was intended 
of the legs so arranged that the palms of their posterior 
by the Grecian sage, its author— he will find that he is 
hands are more or less turned inwards, or towards 
in all points of structure a genuine and undoubted 
each other ; hence, when an ape walks upright, he is 
mammal ; and the comparison of his organization with 
rarely able to apply the whole sole of the foot to the 
that of one of the higher apes, especially the chim- 
ground, but waddles along upon the sides of his feet 
panzee, will leave him in little doubt as to the near 
in an awkward and uncertain fashion, very different 
approach which these animals make in some respects 
from the firm, elastic tread of man. As we advance 
to the human race. This resemblance is so close in 
upwards in mir examination of the human body, we 
many particulars of structure, that we cannot coincide 
find the spinal column beautifully curved to adjust 
in opinion with those writers who hold that Man should 
it to the upright position, and the skull supported 
on no account be admitted into the zoological series. 
nearly in equilibrium upon the first vertebra of the neck ; 
an opinion founded principally upon the consideration of 
the occipital condyles, or articulating processes, being 
his intellectual faculties and moral qualities ; nor can we 
placed almost exactly under the centre of gravity of 
even assent to Professor Owen’s view, that the human 
the whole head. Thus, the maintenance of an upright 
race, regarded in its physical aspect, is so distinct in its 
position is facilitated in the human subject by every 
characters from all other mammals, as to deserve to 
conceivable means, and the object of this modification 
form a subclass by itself ; but we are still further at 
is evidently to leave him at liberty to make full use of 
variance with those writers who, like some modern 
the beautiful and delicate mechanism which constitutes 
French zoologists, have reverted to the Linnsean 
the hand of man. The monkeys, indeed, are all endowed 
1 
VoL. I. 2 
