DIFFERENTIAL CHARACTERS COLOR. 987 



form of the soft parts (such as the nose, lips, etc.), but in the shape of the 

 skull and of other parts of the bony skeleton, which might be supposed to 

 be less liable to variation. Now it is clearly a question of great scientific 

 interest, as well as one that considerably affects the mode in which we re- 

 gard the races that differ from our own, whether they are all of one species, 

 that is, descended from the same or from similar parentage, or whether 

 they are to be considered as distinct species, the first parent of the several 

 races having had the same differences among themselves as those which are 

 now exhibited by their descendants. 



827. In order to arrive at a just conclusion on this subject, it is necessary 

 to take a very extensive survey of the evidence furnished by a number of 

 different lines of inquiry. Thus, in the First place, it is right to investi- 

 gate what are the discriminating structural marks, by which species are 

 distinguished among other tribes of animals. Secondly, it should be as- 

 certained to what extent variation may proceed among races which are 

 historically known to have had a common parentage, and what are the cir- 

 cumstances which most favor such variation. Thirdly, the extreme varia- 

 tions which present themselves among the different races of Men, should be 

 compared with those which occur among tribes of animals known to be of 

 the same parentage ; and it should be questioned, at the same time, whether 

 the circumstances which favor the production of varieties in the latter case 

 are in operation in the former. Fourthly, where it is impossible to trace 

 back distinct races to their origin, it is to be inquired how far agreement in 

 physiological and psychological peculiarities may be regarded as indicating 

 specific identity, even where a considerable difference exists in bodily confor- 

 mation ; and this test, if it can be determined on, has to be applied to Man. 

 Fifthly, it must be attempted by a detailed examination of the varieties of 

 the Human race themselves, to ascertain whether their differences in confor- 

 mation are constant ; or whether there are not such occasional manifesta- 

 tions, in each race, of a tendency to assume the characters of others, as to 

 prevent any definite lines being drawn between the several tribes which to- 

 gether make up the (supposed) distinct species. An investigation so com- 

 prehensive could not be followed out, even in the most cursory manner that 

 would be consistent with utility, within the limits of the present work ; and 

 no more will be attempted, therefore, than an indication of the principal 

 points of difference among the several Races of Men, and a statement of the 

 results of inquiry into their degree of constancy in each of the principal 

 groups which they have been thought to mark out. 1 



828. The differential characters on which those have relied who have 

 sought to establish the existence of a plurality of species among Mankind, 

 are both Auatomico-Physiological, and Psychological. Under the former 

 head rank the color of the Skin, the texture of the Hair, and the conforma- 

 tion of the bony Skeleton, especially the Skull. The latter consist in the 

 superiority claimed for some races over others, in Intellectual power, and 

 in Moral and Religious capacity. The former group will be the one first 

 considered. 



829. The Color of the skin exists in the Epidermis only ; and it depends 



1 The whole of this investigation has been most elaborately, and in the Author's 

 opinion most successfully worked out by Dr. Prichard, in his profound and philo- 

 sophical Treatise on the Physical History of Man. For a more concise view of Dr. 

 Prichard's argument, with some additional considerations not embraced in it, the 

 Author may reler to his own article on the Varieties of the Human Species, in the 

 Cyclop, of Anal, and Phys., vol. iv. See also Dr. R. G. Latham's Natural History 

 of the Varieties of Man ; and his shorter Essay on the Varieties of the Human Species, 

 in Orr's Circle of the Sciences, vol. i. 



