THE ANTECEDENTS OF MAN. 



Physical Anthropology, or the Science of Man's Bodily 



Structure. 



Its Nature, Object, and Early Difficulties. 



The department of zoology designated " Anthropology " pro- 

 fesses to investigate the relations subsisting between the different 

 races of mankind, and between man and the animals nearest to 

 him. This it does by following the ordinary rides of study in 

 natural history — viz., by carefully comparing and contrasting 

 individuals as respects their bodily structures, and their organic 

 functions or habits, then putting the results in tabular form for 

 ready reference. 



The admittedly wide gap between man and the apes, which 

 of all animals come nearest to him, had inspired earlier zoolo- 

 gists with a suspicion that not much advancement could be 

 gained by comparing man with them, or by comparing them 

 with man. This, together with the fear that religious interests 

 seemed to require the subject to be shunned, prevented anthro- 

 pology from developing into a special department of zoology. 



The progress of science generally, however, involved the 

 advancement of the science of man in his zoological relations as 

 an absolute necessity. Geology had survived the odium theo- 

 logicum ; so had astronomy. Why should not anthropology ? 

 Palaeontology had filled up many gaps among the lower animals ; 

 was it not possible that the hiatus between man and the anthro- 

 poid apes might some day be bridged ? 



Timidly and amidst much persecution did individual zoolo- 

 gists patiently pursue this special line of study, till at length, 

 their numbers increasing, they united in societies for the purpose 

 of communicating to one another their discoveries, comparing, 

 criticising, and correcting their results. Now there are to be 

 found Anthropological Societies in England, America, France, 

 Spain, Germany, Russia, and Italy, and the science may be said 

 to be steadily gaining ground, both in the appreciation of the 

 educated and in the material progress of its research. Like 

 every other branch of science it has to pass through the groping 

 and blundering stage up to the intelligent and accurate, or, in 

 other words, the truly scientific stage. Many old methods of 



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