THE HUMAN SPECIES. 131 



their characteristics the same before, by what force in 

 nature did they suddenly, in a short time, change to 

 their present distinctions, after that event ; or if they 

 were clearly possessed of them, then the remoteness of 

 the time renders all trust-worthy decision impossible, 

 or favours, more than it contradicts, that the tropical 

 conformation was the most general, and the Mongolic 

 next, because both extremes of temperature are not 

 incompatible with its vitality; and the bearded type 

 last, the highest, the best endowed, and destined ulti- 

 mately to elevate the others by its contact ; and iinally, 

 supports the same facts in the location of species which 

 are observed to exist in the distribution of animals and 

 plants in particular regions, according to their nature 

 and structure. Thus, reasoning merely from facts, the 

 woolly haired type again bears tokens of greater anti- 

 quity than either of the other, and it may have been of 

 Australasian origin ; not necessarily black, for colour 

 alone is of very secondary importance. Other distinc- 

 tions of a specific character will be found, when those 

 of the three forms are explicitly enumerated ; and thus 

 far their separation as species might be claimed as 

 established, but that there remain still other considera- 

 tions which should not be overlooked, since they tend 

 to an opposite conclusion. (See Plate.) 



Among these, perhaps not one is more forcible than 

 the fact, that the lowest form of the three is the most 

 ready to amalgamate with the highest. Again, that 

 both the beardless and woolly haired acquire the 



