3 REMARKS ON THE FIGURES OF PLATE XLVIII. 
it not be the same law of proportioning minus from plus 
which renders all the individuals of all species various to 
each other? Hence, also, arises the question, what is the 
form of that archetype serial quantity from which the law 
of metamorphosis subtracts certain parts for the creation 
of species? If plus contains minus, then plus must be 
the archetype unity; for it is evident that minus cannot 
contain plus, and cannot, therefore, contain unity. 
Fig. A equals fig. B, as to present created quantity, but 
fig. A, as we now see it, is minus to itself when it, or its 
fellow, shall produce cervical and lumbar ribs; and when 
once it produces these plus quantities, it becomes arche- 
type of fig. B, as well as of its former self. 
The knowledge of a plus sum or whole quantity, taken 
as standard unity, together with the knowledge of the law 
of metamorphosis, becomes the span and encompassment 
of all the multitudinous conditions of minus variety. It is 
sufficient to understand, at first sight, how possible it is for 
the law of subtraction to vary a whole quantity to infinity, 
without followmg.this infinite degradation, for while we 
freely grant that the integer 9, or the series of 9, may 
pass through a metamorphosis sufficient to create special 
differences in infinitely infinitesimal account, then the 
choice of pursuing this endless process and evidence of 
creation, can never furnish us with an idea new to those 
which we had already entertained of the same. Two plus 
integers, such as 9, and 9, are plus equals; two plus costo- 
vertebral archetypes are likewise equals or homologues ; 
a series of the integers 9, will form a plus and uniform 
series, however far we extend this serial line; and a series 
of plus ecosto-vertebral archetypes will also establish a 
plus series of those forms, however much nature extends 
such line, in fact, or we ourselves, in idea. 
When we substract from the integer 9, any given 
quantity, such, for. example, as 5, then the integer 9, is 
left in the condition of 9—5, that is to say, 4. When 
nature subtracts from the costo-vertebral archetype a 
certain costal quantity, then this archetype is left in the 
condition of a cervical or lumbar vertebra. When sub- 
traction takes place upon the integer 9, to the amount of 
the quantity 8, then the integer 9, is reduced to the pro- 
portional 1; and when the costo-vertebral archetype is 
submitted to a metamorphosis in extreme degree, then 
this archetype is reduced to a caudal nodule. 
When from two integers, such as 9, equal quantities, 
such as 5, are subtracted, then the two integers 9, and 9, 
are reduced to 4, and 4. When a certain amount of sub- 
traction takes place upon two costo-vertebral units of the 
plus series, then those archetypes are left in equal minus 
condition, such as we find in two cervical vertebre, in two 
asternal costo-vertebral forms, in two lumbar vertebre, in 
two sacral or two caudal quantities, all of which will vary 
from thoracic form according to the degree of subtraction 
practised upon their common plus archetypes, which are 
of thoracic quantity. 
When upon two serieses of 9, equal degrees of sub- 
traction take place, then the original series of either, which 
was 9,9,9, 9,9, &c., is reduced equally, for either, to the 
series of 9, 8,7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, im one place, and 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 
4,3, 2, 1,in another. And, when from the original serieses 
of costo-vertebral archetypes equal degrees of metamor- 
phosis annihilates quantity at the same numerical units in 
both, then the forms of series which result are such as 
figs. A, and B, now present. Hence it will be seen that 
equal metamorphosis, carried out upon the plus original 
serieses of costo-vertebral quantities, is that law whereby 
figs. A, and B, and their like, through all the human type 
are now special homologues; but we, at the same time, 
may readily understand how they could be varied to each 
other, by the simple process of subtracting unequal 
quantities from numerically different units*of their plus 
originals. It is solely owing to this latter mode of forma- 
tion that we occasionally find fig..A, different to fig, B, 
in respect to the surplusage of ribs at neck or loins; and 
who will deny that the varieties of all animal species take 
rise by the self-same process of formation ? 
The plus uniform or archetype series is that quantity 
upon which the law of metamorphosis is exercised for the 
creation of special variety. When we shall know of this 
serial original or prime model, then shall we be enabled to” 
refer, not only all “normal conditions of form” to it for 
explanation, but even all the “‘ abnormal varieties,’* which 
have, or can have, or do actually happen to any created 
design of skeleton form, whatever. For by the simple law 
of subtracting from whole quantities, it is possible to 
include the infinite minus variation as they at present 
stand upon the globose surface of this planet’s actual state, 
or as they have appeared in all the past epochs of time, 
since in the sentence of “ unity in variety” is summed up 
all the evidence of the one law of creation. 
* “Une personne de votre pays m’a assuré, que feu M. de Barsabas et sa sur Religieuse, tous deux fameux par plusieurs traits qui marquent 
en eux une force extraordinaire, avoient une queue.t ”—“ Du reste il est constant que cette race @’hommes a queue est beaucoup plus nombreuse 
. . : 5 . : ss a ? 
qu'on ne se imagine; et que ce proverbe si commun parmi vous (homines caudati) pour désigner des gens sans esprit, n’est nullement 
métaphorique. 
Tl est fondé sur la vérité§. Ilya beaucoup de ces hommes en Ethiopie: il y en a aux Indes, en Egypte, en Angleterre, 
surtout en Kcosse. Toutes vos rélations en font foi.”—Maillet, Telliamed, Sivitme Journée. Del’ Origine de ? Homme, &c. 
+ “Nullum characterem hactenus eruere potui, unde homo a simia internoscatur.”—Linneus, Fauna Suecica, Preface. 
§ We do not make use of this experience of the French author as though we implicitly believed in the anatomical occurrence of that outer 
appendage which interests him in regard of human formation. The néhél frustra being that law in Nature whfch gives creation to no form which 
fitness does not absolutely require ; it is, therefore, that the human spinal axis manifests its present condition as terminating at that place where 
the anatomist invariably finds the coccygeal series of ossicles. 
ourselves found, and what we have drawn from the verbal testimony of others. 
serious air; let us for the time forget Monboddo, Ackermann, Lamarck, Rousseau, Maillet, and that school. 
We say invariably ; but this assertion can extend no further than what we have 
Let us therefore, if it be possible, regard the subject with a 
Let us only consider the fact— 
the coccygeal fact—and draw its meaning according to the evidence of comparative science. 
