266 : THE HISTORY OF CREATION, 
that natural conception of it which is offered by the history 
of his individual development. 
It is evident that in order correctly to determine Man’s 
position among the other terrestrial organisms we must, 
in the first place, follow the guidance of the natural 
system. We must endeavour to determine the position 
which belongs to Man in the natural system of animals 
as accurately and distinctly as possible. We shall 
then, if in fact the theory of descent be correct, be able 
from his position in the system to determine the real 
primary relationship, and the degree of consanguinity 
connecting Man with the animals most like him. The 
hypothetical pedigree of the human race will then follow 
naturally as the final result of this anatomical and system- 
atic inquiry. 
Now if, by means of comparative anatomy and ontogeny, 
we seek for man’s position in that Natural System of animals 
- which formed the subject of the last two chapters, the 
incontrovertible fact will at once present itself to us, that 
man belongs to the tribe, or phylum, of the Vertebrata. 
Every one of the characteristics, which so strikingly distin- 
guish all the Vertebrata from all Invertebrata, is possessed 
by him. It has also never been doubted that of all-the 
Vertebrata the Mammals are most closely allied to Man, 
and that he possesses all the characteristic features distin- 
suishing them from all other Vertebrata. If then we 
further carefully examine the three different main groups 
or sub-classes of Mammals—the inter-connections of which 
were discussed in our last chapter—there cannot be the slight- 
est doubt that Man belongs to the Placentals, and shares 
with all other Placentais, the important characteristics 
