Ceap. VI..] 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, hut not, it may he said, of nohle quality. The 

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

 long heen 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 heen 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- 

 hie 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 humhle, without 

 "being struck with enthusiasm at its marvellous structure 

 and properties. 



