150 Literary and Philosophical Society. 



opposite one. For if, according to the latter, we admit 

 that such great varieties can be produced in the same 

 species as we find to exist in man, it would be easy 

 to maintain the probability that several species of simise 

 are but varieties of the species man ; since they differ as 

 little in their organisation from some individuals of the 

 species as these do from men in general. And if the 

 argument be still further extended, almost all the animal 

 kingdom might be deduced from one pair, and be consi- 

 dered as one family ; than which a more degrading notion 

 certainly cannot be entertained. But the opinion advanced 

 above effectually precludes any such consequences, as it 

 places each species upon its own proper basis, and debars 

 them from intermixing with other species, unless nearly 

 resembling themselves, and even that in a limited manner.' 

 Lyell, in his ' Principles of Geology ' (edit. 1853), chap- 

 ter xxxvi. p. 608, has some remarks on the theory of 

 gradations in intellect as shown by the facial angle, in 

 which Charles White's name is not treated with due respect. 

 After mentioning that Camper first attempted to esti- 

 mate the degrees of sagacity of different animals and of 

 the races of men by the measurement of the facial angle, 

 Lyell goes on to say, ' A great number of valuable facts 

 and curious analogies in comparative anatomy were 

 brought to light during the investigations which were made 

 by Camper, John Hunter, and others to illustrate this 

 scale of organisations ; and their facts and generalisations 

 must not be confounded with the fanciful systems which 

 White and others deduced from them.' 



