304 THE ACTION OF NATURAL 
of species he may have outlived, or to the amount of 
terrestrial change he may have witnessed. 
Wide differences of opinion as to Man’s Origin. 
But while on this question of man’s antiquity there 
is a very general agreement,—and all are waiting 
eagerly for fresh evidence to clear up those points 
which all admit to be full of doubt,—on other, and 
not less obscure and difficult questions, a considerable 
amount of dogmatism is exhibited ; doctrines are put 
forward as established truths, no doubt or hesitation 
is admitted, and it seems to be supposed that no 
further evidence is required, or that any new facts 
can modify our convictions. This is especially the case 
when we inquire,—Are the various forms under which! 
man now exists primitive, or derived from pre-exist- 
ing forms; in other words, is man of one or many 
species? To this question we imniediately obtain dis- 
tinct answers diametrically opposed to each other: the 
one party positively maintaining, that man is a species 
and is essentially one—that all differences are but local 
and temporary variations, produced by the different 
physical and moral conditions by which he is sur- 
rounded; the other party maintaining with equal con- 
fidence, that man is a genus of many species, each of 
which is practically unchangeable, and has ever been 
as distinct, or even more. distinct, than we now be- 
hold them. This difference of opinion is somewhat 
remarkable, when we consider that both parties aro 
well acquainted with the subject ; both use the same 
