MAMMALIAN DESCENT. 



LECTURE I. 



INTRODUCTORY. 



BRIEF as is the title I have given to the present 

 Course of Lectures, it contains enough, in two words, to 

 give alarm to cautious and timid minds. 



I need hardly say that no harm is intended by it ; 

 and I believe that no harm will happen to the mind of 

 any one who will listen to me whilst I bring forward 

 some of the " new things " of Biology. 



The Mammalia are important to the biologist beyond 

 any other group whatever ; for they contain, within 

 their circle, the highest known type of living creatures. 

 A group which culminates in Man may well deserve our 

 attention and study ; even the forms that make the 

 nearest approach to the human race are, of necessity, 

 full of interest to us. 



If in human society the toe of the peasant now and 

 then galls the kibe of the courtier, so in this class 

 the toe of the irrational beast treads, in some cases, 

 very close upon the heel of rational man. 



