Identifier: animalandvegetab01roge (find matches)
Title: Animal and vegetable physiology, considered with reference to natural theology, by Peter Mark Roget ..
Year: 1834 (1830s)
Authors: Roget, Peter Mark, 1779-1869
Subjects: Biology Physiology Plant physiology Natural theology
Publisher: London : W. Pickering
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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ast of which terminate in hoofs. All rumi-nant quadrupeds have thus a double hoof; acharacter which is peculiar to this family. Thus, then, has Nature moulded the organs ofprogressive motion in this remarkable tribe ofanimals to accommodate them to the peculiarconditions of their existence, while she has stillpreserved their relations to the primitive type ofthe class to w^hich they belong. Thus has shebestowed upon them the slender and elegantforms, so pleasing to the eye, which characterisethe fleetest racer, and has provided for the agile,yet firm and secure movements which they areto exercise in various ways in eluding the obser-vation, and escaping from the pursuit of theirstronger and more sagacious foes. This purposethey effect, at one time by rapid flight acrossextensive tracts of country; at another, by re-tirement into unfrequented forests, or mountains RUMINANT QUADRUPEDS. 507 of difficult access, crossing their rugged surfacesin all directions, clambering their precipitous
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508 THE MECHANICAL FUNCTIONS. acclivities, and fearlessly bounding over inter-vening abysses, from point to point, till the 1place of safety is attained on some rocky emi-nence. From this secure station the Alpinechamois looks down upon its pursuers, and de-fies their further efforts at capture or molesta-tion. The astonishing feats of agility practisedby this animal, and by which the most expe-rienced hunters are perpetually baffled in theirattempts to approach it, sufficiently attest theperfection of its organization in reference to allthese objects. The chamois has often been seento leap down a perpendicular precipice of tM entyor thirty feet in height, without sustaining theslightest injury. How the ligaments that bindthe joints can resist the violent strains and con-cussions they must be exposed to in these quickand jarring efforts, is truly wonderful. While Nature has provided these animalswith the means of safety from their more for-midable enemies, she has not left them alto-g

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