132 LESSONS FllOM NATURE. [CHAP. VI. 



theory of evolution, they must have been well fitted to main 

 tain themselves under the conditions existing in their own 

 region. 



Man is generally admitted to be, as to antiquity, at the 

 most, but a tertiary mammal ; but Australia presents us with 

 a fauna in some respects triassic. Some eminent authorities, 

 however, assert that miocene man still exists, and that we 

 behold him in the Esquimaux. It may naturally be a matter 

 of some regret that this cannot be proved, since, if the 

 Esquimaux are indeed miocene men surviving to this day, 

 an investigation of their mental condition would almost 

 suffice to solve the problem decisively one way or the other. 

 It would suffice to solve it, since we might fairly argue from 

 the progress made between the miocene period and to-day, 

 to that which might be supposed to have taken place between 

 the beginning of the tertiary period and the miocene. 



If, however, ethnology and archaeology fail to furnish the 

 requisite evidence, and thus show themselves manifestly in 

 competent to solve the question, then the cause must be trans 

 ferred to the tribunal of Philosophy for decisive judgment. 

 In that case, if philosophy (including psychology) shows us, as 

 it is here contended that it does, that there is a difference of 

 kind between the lowest races of men and the highest species 

 of brutes, pointing to a difference of essential principle, and, 

 therefore, of origin, then ethnology and archaeology (in the case 

 of their supposed failure as to the evidence referred to) become 

 important auxiliaries, and will powerfully aid to reinforce such 

 conclusion. They will, by their eloquent silence, supply us 

 with additional grounds for maintaining that the progress of 

 physical science will but more and more clearly bring out 

 the difference existing between all merely animal natures 

 and that of the rational animal man. 



There are five main subjects of inquiry which bear upon 

 Throe new this question. These are : 1. Language; 2. Morals; 

 inquiry. 3. Religion ; 4. Progress ; 5. Community of Nature 

 as made known (or contradicted) by yet other lines of 

 inquiry. 



