emity of these same fingers,
enables him to judge the nature of the bodies which surround him, to
recognize them, to make use of them--means which no other animals
possess to such a degree.

"Thirdly, by the state of his organization man is able to hold
himself up and walk erect. He has, for this attitude which is
natural to him, large muscles at the lower extremities which are
adapted to this end, and it would thus be as difficult to walk
habitually on his four extremities as it would be for the other
mammals, and even for the _Quadrumana_, to walk so habitually erect
on the soles of their feet.

"Moreover, man is not truly quadrumanous; for he has not, like the
monkeys, an almost equal facility in using the fingers of his feet,
and of seizing objects with them. In the feet of man the thumbs are
not in opposition to the other fingers to use in grasping, as in
monkeys, etc.

"I appreciate all these reasons, and I see that man, although near
the _Quadrumana_, is so distinct that he alone represents a separate
order, belonging to a single genus and species, offering, however,
many different varieties. This order may be, if it is desired, that
of the _Bimana_.

"However, if we consider that all the characteristics which have
been cited are only differences in degree of structure, may we not
suppose that this special condition of organization of man _has been
gradually acquired at the close of a long period of time, with the
aid of circumstances which have proved favorable?_[195] What a
subject for reflection for those who have the courage to enter into
it!

"If the _Quadrumana_ have not the occipital opening situated
directly at the base of the cranium as in man, it is assuredly much
less raised posteriorly than in the dog, cat, and all the other
mammals. Thus they all may quite often stand erect, although this
attitude for them is very irksome.

"I have not observed the situation of the occipital opening of the
jacko or orang-outang (_Simia satyrus_ L.); but as I know that this
animal almost habitually walks erect, though it has no strength in
its legs, I suppose that the occipital foramen is not situated so
far from the base of the skull as in the other _Quadrumana_.

"The head of the negro, less flattened in front than that of the
European man, necessarily has the occipital foramen central.

"The more should the jacko contract the