78 The Descent of Man. Part 1^ 



fcions, and still more on the surrounding organisms which com- 

 pete with each, — and lastly, on inheritance (in itself a fluctuating 

 element) from innumerable progenitors, all of which have had 

 their forms determined through equally complex relations. It 

 appears incredible that the modified descendants of two organ- 

 isms, if these differed from each other in a marked manner, 

 should ever afterwards converge so closely as to lead to a near 

 approach to identity throughout their whole organisation. In 

 the case of the convergent races of pigs above referred to, evi- 

 dence of their descent from two primitive stocks is, according to 

 Von Nathusius, still plainly retained, in certain bones of their 

 skulls. If the races of man had descended, as is supposed by 

 some naturalists, from two or more species, which differed from 

 each other as much, or nearly as much, as does the orang from 

 the gorilla, it can hardly be doubted that marked differences in 

 the structure of certain bones would still be discoverable in man 

 as he now exists. 



Although the existing races of man differ in many respects, as 

 in colour, hair, shape of skull, proportions of the body, &c, yet 

 if their whole structure be taken into consideration they are 

 found to resemble each other closely in a multitude of points. 

 Many of these are of so unimportant or of so singular a nature, 

 that it is extremely improbable that they should have been inde- 

 pendently acquired by aboriginally distinct species or races. 

 The same remark holds good with equal or greater force with 

 respect to the numerous points of mental similarity between the 

 most distinct races of man. The American aborigines, Negroes 

 and Europeans are as different from each other in mind as any 

 three races that can be named; yet I was incessantly struck, 

 whilst living with the Fuegians on board the " Beagle," with the 

 many little traits of character, shewing how similar their minds 

 were to ours ; and so it was with a full-blooded negro with whom 

 I happened once to be intimate. 



He who will read Mr. Tylor's and Sir J. Lubbock's interesting 

 works 2i can hardly fail to be deeply impressed with the close 

 similarity between the men of all races in tastes, dispositions and 

 habits. This is shewn by the pleasure which they all take in 

 dancing, rude music, acting, painting, tattooing, and otherwise 

 decorating themselves ; in their mutual comprehension of gesture- 

 language, by the same expression in their features, and by the 

 same inarticulate cries, when excited by the same emotions. 

 This similarity, or rather identity, is striking, when contrasted 



2 * Tylor's ' Early History of Man- language, see p. 54. Lubbock ** 

 kind,' L855 : with lespect to gesture- 'Prehistoric Times,' 2nd ed/t. 1869. 



