i860— 1 882] DESCENT OF MAN ^ 



ciatc the immense interval even to the later Pliocene. Hut L« 



I still maintain my view, which in fact is a logical result of 

 my theory ; for if man originated in later Pliocene, when 

 almost all mammalia were of closely allied species to those 

 now living, and many even identical, then man has not been 

 stationary in bodily structure while animals have been 

 varying, and my theory will be proved to be all wrong. 



In Murchison's address to the Geographical Society, just 

 delivered, he points out Africa as being the oldest existing 

 land. He says there is no evidence of its having been ever 

 submerged during the Tertiary epoch. Here then is evidently 

 the place to find early man. I hope something good may be 

 found in Borneo, and that the means may be found to explore 

 the still more promising regions of tropical Africa, for we can 

 expect nothing of man very early in Europe. 



It has given me great pleasure to find that there are 

 symptoms of improvement in your health. I hope you will 

 not exert yourself too soon or write more than is quite agree- 

 able to you. I think I made out every word of your letter, 

 though it was not always easy. 



For Wallace's later views see the small type on p. 39. 



To W. Turner. Letter 407 



Sir William Turner is frequently referred to in the Descent of Man as 

 having supplied Mr. Darwin with information. 



Down, Dec. 14th [1S66]. 

 Your kindness when I met you at the Royal Society 

 makes me think that you would grant me the favour of a 

 little information, if in your power. I am preparing a book on 

 Domestic Animals, and as there has been so much discussion 

 on the bearing of such views as I hold on Man, I have some 

 thoughts of adding a chapter on this subject. The point on 

 which 1 want information is in regard to any part which may 

 be fairly called rudimentary in comparison with the same 

 part in the Quadrumana or any other mammal. Now the 

 os coccyx is rudimentary as a tail, and 1 am anxious to hear 

 about its muscles. Mr. Flower found for me in some work 

 that its one muscle (with striae) was supposed only to bring 

 this bone back to its proper position after parturition. This 

 seems to me hardly credible. He said he had never par- 

 ticularly examined this part, and when I mentioned your 



