2 66 THE HISTOEY OF CREATIOX. 



that natural conception of it which is offered by the history 

 of his individual development. 



It is evident that in order correctly to determine Man's 

 position among the other terrestrial organisms we must, 

 in the first place, follow the guidance of the natural 

 system. We must endeavour to determine the position 

 which belongs to Man in the natural system of animals 

 as accurately and distinctly as possible. We shall 

 then, if in fact the theory of descent be correct, be able 

 from his position in the system to determine the real 

 primary relationship, and the degree of consanguinity 

 connecting Man with the animals most like him. The 

 hypothetical pedigree of the human race will then follow 

 naturally as the final result of this anatomical and system- 

 atic inquiry. 



Now if, by means of comparative anatomy and ontogeny, 

 we seek for man's position in that Natural System of animals 

 which formed the subject of the last two chapters, the 

 incontrovertible fact will at once present itself to us, that 

 man belongs to the tribe, or phylum, of the Vertebrata. 

 Every one of the characteristics, which so strikingly distin- 

 guish all the Vertebrata from all Invertebrata, is possessed 

 by him. It has also never been doubted that of all the 

 Vertebrata the Mammals are most closely allied to Man, 

 and that he possesses all the characteristic features distin- 

 guishing them from all other Vertebrata. If then we 

 further carefuUy examine the three different main groups 

 or sub-classes of Mammals — the inter-connections of which 

 were discussed in our last chapter — there cannot be the slight- 

 est doubt that Man belongs to the Placentals, and shares 

 with all other Placentals, the important characteristics 



