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Show MAN NOT A NATURAL SWIMMER. Ability to Keep Afloat Acquired Only by Skill and Exertion. Man Is not amphibious by nature. 1 Natation is acquired only by skill and muscular exertion. The lower animals have much the advantage over us in this respect. In tho flrst place, the i brute creation have no fear of water, and In the Becond their heads are exceedingly ex-ceedingly light In comparison with the 1 rest of their bodies. The mammnllan I caput contains little brains and I abounds in sinuses, so that Its relative rela-tive weight Is ho Inconsiderable that ' an animal can easily keep Its mouth and nose above the surface nnd respire I freely. In mnn, on the contrary, tho head, which Is full of brains and con-I con-I tnlns no cavities, Is exceedingly heavy In proportion to tho rest of tho body. ,. nnd tho great difficulty he experiences In swjmmlng is to counteract this specific spe-cific gravity and keep the organs of respiration above water. To attain , this Is tho perfection of swimming; ' and when it tins been attained man, though possessed of natural disadvantages, disadvan-tages, Is superior to all animals ex-r ex-r cept fish In the natant art. - a |