Cea?. vl.] AFFINITIES AND GENEALOGY. 205 



period, Man, the wonder and glory of the Universe, pro- 

 ceeded. 



Thus we have given to man a pedigree of prodigious 

 length, but not, it may be said, of noble quality. The 

 world, it has often been remarked, appears as if it had 

 long been preparing for the advent of man ; and this, in 

 one sense is strictly true, for he owes his birth to a long 

 line of progenitors. If any single link in this chain had 

 never existed, man would not have been exactly what he 

 now is. Unless we wilfully close our eyes, we may, with 

 our present knowledge, approximately recognize our par- 

 entage : nor need we feel ashamed of it. The most hum- 

 ble organism is something much higher than the inorganic 

 dust under our feet ; and no one with an unbiassed mind 

 can study any living creature, however humble, without 

 being struck with enthusiasm at its marvellous structure 

 and properties. 



