482 NATURAL HISTORY OF MAX. 



creature has finally reached the form and conditions of the 

 higher ? With a rare but rash intrepidity Lamarck hastens 

 to an affirmative answer, and even denotes the manner and 

 steps of the transmutation. On this question also we have 

 spoken elsewhere; and need not repeat the reasons we 

 consider valid against any such belief. We admit the proxi- 

 mity of these creatures in structure and in various conditions 

 of intelligence ; and we see this approach more strongly 

 marked when looking to the inferior races of mankind. But 

 proximity is not identity; and Man, though one member 

 only of the animal creation, has his individuality and specific 

 place at the head of the scale. In a mere physical sense, 

 he stands there simply as the highest, in a long series of 

 animal types ; connected by close though perhaps unequal 

 links, and subject to the same general laws determining 

 the origin, distribution, and variations of species. On every 

 principle of just classification he forms a genus to himself; 

 and it is the conclusion of Prichard and others that this 

 genus differs from all other genera of the animal kingdom, 

 in containing but one species. Still we must ever hold it in 

 view that he is a part of the great scale of animal life ; and 

 we shall speedily see how many arguments and analogies 

 may be drawn as to what regards his physical history, from 

 those inferior beings which exist some for his uses, many 

 more for his contemplation, in the world around him. 



This is especially true as respects the question to which we 

 now come, having already in part premised our opinion upon 

 it, viz. whether there be one species or more of the genus 

 Man ? Whether (to put the most cogent case in front) the 

 perfect Negro and the perfect European, seeing the strong 

 contrasts they exhibit, can be rightly deemed of the same 

 species ? and Whether, to explain other striking varieties 

 in the races of men, it is needful to extend yet further this 

 view of their specific differences ? Tn discussing these points 



