220 THE DESCENT OF MAN. Part I. 



were darker coloured and appeared different from those 

 proper to the natives of Chiloe in South America, of 

 which he gave me specimens. These, again, appeared 

 larger and much softer than European lice. Mr. Murray 

 procured four kinds from Africa, namely from the 

 Negroes of the Eastern and Western coasts, from the 

 Hottentots and Caffres ; two kinds from the natives 

 of Australia ; two from North, and two from South 

 America. In these latter cases it may be presumed 

 that the Pediculi came from natives inhabiting different 

 districts. With insects slight structural differences, if 

 constant, are generally esteemed of specific value : and 

 the fact of the races of man being infested by parasites, 

 which appear to be specifically distinct, might fairly 

 be urged as an argument that the races themselves 

 ought to be classed as distinct species. 



Our supposed naturalist having proceeded thus far 

 in his investigation, would next inquire whether the 

 races of men, when crossed, were in any degree sterile. 

 He might consult the work 9 of a cautious and philo- 

 sophical observer, Professor Broca ; and in this he would 

 find good evidence that some races were quite fertile 

 together ; but evidence of an opposite nature in regard to 

 other races. Thus it has been asserted that the native 

 women of Australia and Tasmania rarely produce 

 children to European men ; the evidence, however, on 

 this head has now been shewn to be almost valueless. 

 The half-castes are killed by the pure blacks ; and an 

 account has lately been published of eleven half-caste 

 youths murdered and burnt at the same time, whose 

 remains were found by the police. 10 Again, it has often 



9 'On the Phenomena of Hybridity in the Genus Homo,' Eng. 

 translat. 1864. 



10 See the interesting letter by Mr. T. A. Murray, in the ' Anthro- 

 polog. Keview,' April, 1868, p. liii. In this letter Count Strzeleeki's 



