[10] 



to unearth the life-remains in the neighbourhood of the Indian Ocean, 

 where it is believed man first evolved from his ape-like ancestors. It 

 does not, however, seem to me to be essentially necessary that the 

 " missing link " be found in order to substantiate the Evolution theory. 

 There is so little difference between the higher anthropoid apes and 

 man, compared with the enormous differences observed between the 

 earlier forms of life and the ape species, that the sequence and con- 

 tinuity appear now conclusively settled to any reasonable observer. 

 Comparative anatomists and embryologists both declare in favour of 

 the theory of development of Darwin and Haeckel. It is a fact beyond 

 dispute that every human being commences his individual existence as 

 a tiny piece of structureless bioplasm, from which condition he passes 

 through the Amoeba stage to the Synamoeba, and thence in regular order 

 through each successive stage of development marked in the genealogy 

 given above, becoming worm, fish, and mammal in turn, and finally 

 being born into the world as a member of the human family. Each of 

 these lower forms also passes through all the species preceding it in 

 precisely the same manner. This is one of the strongest arguments in 

 favour of Evolution. It is said that the power of speech possessed by 

 man opposes a strong barrier to the theory ; but it has been shown 

 clearly that other animals besides man can use articulate sounds, which 

 convey meanings to each other. Monkeys certainly understand each 

 other's chattering, and it is highly probable that birds also understand 

 each other's cries. It is true that the sounds made by animals are chiefly 

 monosyllabic ; but philologists now tell us that the languages spoken 

 by primitive races of men are compounded of quite simple elements, 

 perfectly within the grasp of an ape's voice. Travellers, whose veracity 

 and ability cannot be impugned, have described long conferences held by 

 monkeys, where one individual addressed the assembly at great length, 

 fixing the attention of all upon himself, and quelling every disturbance 

 by a loud and harsh cry, which was at once recognised and obeyed by 

 the multitude. Is it credible that this should be purposeless ? Is it 

 not actually the exercise of speech ? 



Is it not possible nay, even extremely probable that, under the 

 irresistible pressure of civilised man, his immediate precursor may have 

 become extinct ? All the human races that now tend to bridge the 

 interval between the highest man and the highest ape are fast becoming 

 extinct under this very pressure. The gulf widens, and will widen. 

 The Caribs and Tasmanians have passed away, while the Australians, 



