Epilogue: NYhat Comes of Studying Vertebrates 815 



i'ul groups of animals have become extinct, but they have always been 

 succeeded by something possessing even greater possibilities. There has 

 been no backsliding, so far as the main trend is concerned. 



A point of special significance is this : the line of evolution destined 

 to produce the successful and dominant animal of a future age is 

 initiated during the early and formative period of the race which 

 becomes the dominant animal of the age preceding that. The human 

 race, precociously in a dominant position, is still in its formative stage. 

 By analogy with what has successively happened in the cases of am- 

 phibians, reptiles, and mammals, (1) some groups of a diversified 

 human race, unable to achieve enduring harmony with their human 

 environment, may expect to become extinct; (2) other groups may 

 arrive at a state of mutual tolerance and equilibrium and survive 

 indefinitely, (3) during the formative stage of the race may be initiated 

 a new line of evolution destined to produce something better than 

 present man — a "superman." 



The past affords no ground for the prediction that the human race 

 will become a "dead end" of evolution. If man does not go on in- 

 definitely, he will at least give rise to something better. There is no 

 reason to expect anything radically new to emerge from any existing 

 group of mammals other than primates. They are all phylogenetically 

 "old." As for a "world of insects," it is inconceivable. Insects have 

 had their chance. They are at or near the limit of their specialization. 

 Their instinct cannot compete with intelligence. There are "social 

 insects," but they can never attain a world organization — an insect 

 "UN." 



The human race in its present state has many characteristics which 

 are not fit to survive. Average intelligence is low. The better minds 

 acquire knowledge and devise mechanisms, but the race as a whole 

 lacks the intelligence to use the knowledge and mechanisms to its 

 highest advantage. For example, the radio could bring daily to every 

 human individual the best that human minds have produced in litera- 

 ture, drama, and music, but the usual day's program falls deplorably 

 short of realizing these possibilities. Tremendous stores of energy, both 

 environmental and human, are squandered in periodic outbursts of 

 destruction. Man has an unreasoning passion for size. He wants to 

 produce the biggest thing of its sort ever made; he delights in vast 

 cities, "skyscrapers," and jet propulsion at a thousand miles an hour. 

 In this matter, he should give heed to the dinosaurs. Increase in size 

 may be overdone. Man's cities, viewed in their entirety, are impressive 

 in their size and splendor. But the great majority of the inhabitants 

 never see the city. Like moles in burrows, they spend their dull lives 

 deep in the interiors of massive buildings, performing daily the mechan- 



