ANTIQUITY OP MAN. 249 



gives no ground for the belief in the existence, even 

 in the most ancient times, of any race of men more 

 rude than the modern semi-civilized races, or less 

 developed physically. The most ancient man whose 

 bones are known to us may be referred to a race still 

 extant, and perhaps the most widely distributed of all 

 a fact which tells strongly in favour both of the 

 unity and moderate antiquity of the species, while it 

 is directly opposed to all theories of evolution from 

 brute ancestors. 



