Apes. 207 



related classes, namely, mammals, birds, and 

 reptiles, were derived from either of the two 

 lower vertebrate classes, namely amphibians 

 and fishes. In the class of mammals the steps 

 are not difficult to conceive which led from the 

 ancient Monotremata to the ancient Marsu- 

 pials ; and from these to the early progenitors 

 of the placental animals. We may thus ascend 

 to the Lemuridae ; and the interval is not 

 wide from these to the Simiadae. The Simi- 

 adae then branched off into two great stems, 

 the New World and the Old World monkeys ; 

 and from the latter, at a remote period, man, 

 the wonder and glory of the universe, pro- 

 ceeded. . . . If a single link in this chain 

 had never existed, man would not have been 

 what he now is. Unless we wilfully close 

 our eyes, we may, with our present know- 

 ledge, approximately recognize our parentage, 

 nor need we feel ashamed of it" 1 



" If a single link in this chain had never 

 existed " ! Why, even as Mr. Darwin has 

 imagined it, it is not a chain at all. There 

 is no continuity of concatenation. Even its 

 very first link has to be imagined. And 

 even when it has been imagined it is found 

 to consist not really, not demonstrably, but 

 1 " Descent of Man," voL i. pp. 212, 213. 



P 



