304 THE ACI10N OF NATURAL 



of species he may have outlived, or to the amount of 

 terrestrial change he may have witnessed. 



Wide differences of opinion as to Mail's Origin. 



But while on this question of man's antiquity there 

 is a very general agreement, and all are waiting 

 eagerly for fresh evidence to clear up those points 

 which all admit to be full of doubt, on other, and 

 not less obscure and difficult questions, a considerable 

 amount of dogmatism is exhibited ; doctrines are put 

 forward as established truths, no doubt or hesitation 

 is admitted, and it seems to be supposed that no 

 further evidence is required, or that any new facts 

 can modify our convictions. This is especially the case 

 when we inquire, Are the various forms under which 

 man now exists primitive, or derived from pre-exist- 

 ing forms ; in other words, is man of one or many 

 species ? To this question we immediately obtain dis- 

 tinct answers diametrically opposed to each other : the 

 one party positively maintaining, that man is a species 

 and is essentially one that all differences are but local 

 and temporary variations, produced by the different 

 physical and moral conditions by which he is sur- 

 rounded ; the other party maintaining with equal con- 

 fidence, that man is a genus of many species, each of 

 which is practically unchangeable, and has ever been 

 as distinct, or even more distinct, than we now be- 

 hold them. This difference of opinion is somewhat 

 remarkable, when we consider that both parties are 

 well acquainted with the subject ; both use the same 



