General and Special Apophthegms. 43 



XXVII. A multiplicity of protoplasts for a single species 

 is a contradiction in terms. If two or more such individuals 

 (or pairs), as like as the two Dromios, were the several pro- 

 toplasts to several classes of organised beings (the present 

 members being as like each other as their first ancestors 

 were), the phenomenon would be the existence in nature of 

 more than one undistinguishable species, not the existence 

 of more than one protoplast to a single species. 



XXVIII. A variety is a class of individuals, each belong- 

 ing to the same species, but each differing from other indivi- 

 duals of the species in points wherein they agree amongst 

 each other. 



XXIX. A race is a class of individuals concerning which 

 there are doubts as to whether they constitute a separate 

 species, or a variety of a recognised one. Hence, the term 

 is subjective ; i. e. it applies to the opinion of the investigator 

 rather than to the object of the investigation ; so that its 

 power is that of the symbol for an unknown quantity in 

 algebra. The present writer having, as yet, found no tribe 

 or family, for which a sufficient reason for raising it to a new 

 species has been adduced, has either not used the word race 

 at all, or used it inadvertently. Its proper place is in inves- 

 tigation not in exposition. 



XXX. For anf argument against the unity of the human 

 species, drawn from the analogy of the lower animals, to be 

 valid, it must be taken from a species co-extensive in its 

 geographical distribution with man. 



XXXI. To be thus co-extensive, it must not only be spread 

 over a large area, but it must be spread continuoiisly . 



XXXII. To be thus co-extensive, it must be found at 

 equally high and low sea levels, as well as at equally distant 

 degrees of latitude and longitude. 



XXXIII. Antiquity of the human species. — This problem is 

 most likely to be worked through the phenomena of language. 

 When determined it will give precision to the recent period 

 of the geologist, converting it from a relative into a conven- 

 tionally absolute epoch. 



XXXIV. The average rate at which languages change is 

 capable of being approximated. 



