PRIMITIVE MAN. 355 



progress of knowledge removed this explanation of 

 their origin, and has as yet failed to substitute any 

 other in its place. It may be the same with organic 

 species. The attempt to account for them by derivation 

 may prove fallacious, yet it may be some time before 

 we turn the corner, should this be possible, and enter 

 the path which actually leads up to their origin. 



Lastly, in these circumstances our wisest course 

 is to take individual species, and to inquire as to 

 their history in time, and the probable conditions of 

 their introduction. Such investigations are now being 

 inade by many quiet workers, whose labours are 

 comparatively little known, and many of whom 

 are scarcely aware of the importance of what they are 

 doing toward a knowledge of, at least, the conditions 

 of creation, which is perhaps all that we can at present 

 hope to reach. 



In the next chapter we shall try to sum up what 

 is known as to man himself, in the conditions of 

 his first appearance on our earth, as made knowi^ 

 to us by scientific investigation, and explained oi^ 

 the theory of creation as opposed to evolution. 



