148 THE LIVING WORLD. 



pose there is no need of deciding whether man is 

 a final step in the line of evolution or is to be 

 regarded in some measure as a special creation. 

 Man, by virtue of the powers he possesses, holds an 

 important position in this life's history, and his posi- 

 tion is the same whether his unique powers be 

 regarded as evolved from those of animals or as 

 newly created. The hint has already been dropped 

 that the essential feature of man is the importance 

 of his mental nature, and if we add to this his ethi- 

 cal nature, we have included all features of distinct 

 importance that belong to him. Man may, indeed, 

 be not incorrectly defined as the animal in which 

 everything has become subordinate to the nervous 

 system. For his existence in the world he depends 

 not upon his physical force nor anatomical structure. 

 He proves his right to live neither by defensive nor 

 offensive armor, neither by superior strength nor 

 superior powers of multiplication. The possession 

 of mind alone is his pride. No sooner did his men- 

 tal nature become a predominant feature than his 

 physical nature ceased to undergo any considerable 

 development. It is one of the curious facts of na- 

 ture that man, who possesses powers of mind so 

 infinitely superior to those of the highest animal 

 that there is really no comparison between them, 

 should at the same time be so much like the 

 apes in his anatomical structure that naturalists 

 think he ought to be classed in the same genus with 

 them. Anatomically, then, man is an ape, while, so 

 far as mental powers are concerned, he deserves a 

 new kingdom to himself. 



