380 



for man, ought not to be allowed to go unchallenged, as though that argument 

 had necessarily been proved. The question of the different races of mankind 

 is one which I think might very appropriately occupy the attention of such 

 a society as this. It is one which has been exceedingly well discussed in 

 France, where much and patient research has led to certain conclusions with 

 regard to the difierences between species and races ; and if you will permit 

 me, I will put before you what has been said by one of the leading French 

 naturalists — M. Quatrefages. He stages : — 



" The species is the collective amount of individuals more or less resembling 

 each other, Avhich are descended, or can be looked upon as descended, from 

 one primitive pair by an uninterrupted and natural succession of families. 



" The variety is an individual, or a collection of individuals belonging to 

 the same sexual generation, which is distinguished from other representatives* 

 of the same species by one or more exceptional characteristics. 



" The race is the totality of individuals belonging to a single species having 

 received, and transmitting by way of generation, the characters of a primitive 

 variety. - 



" Thus the sx)ecies is the point of departure. In the midst of the individuals 

 which compose the species appears the variety, and when the characters of 

 the variety become hereditary they form a race. These are the relations 

 which for all naturalists reign between these three terms, and which it is 

 necessary to have constantly before the mind in the study of the questions 

 which occupy us."' 



From hence it follows that the notion of resemblance, which is very much 

 attenuated in the species, becomes of absolute importance in the race. 

 The union of individuals of different species is very rarely productive. It 

 is quite otherwise with the union of individuals of the same species, but of 

 different races. Here, however opposed the morphological characters may 

 be, the union is easy, and always fruitful, and they transmit to their de- 

 scendants the reproductive faculties which they themselves possess. These 

 facts are admitted by Darwin, although opposed to his doctrines. It 

 would, of course, follow that the human species is but one, because all 

 the races are thus fruitful ; and it would also follow that varieties having 

 sprung up, perhaps suddenly, may become distinct races. This is proved 

 most completely as regards both plants and animals. The question of time 

 is not a matter to be considered as regards the formation of a variety : it 

 may occur suddenly, and may then be transmitted so as to form a race ; and 

 races so produced, according to the view of M. Quatrefages, may go on 

 propagating themselves. I do not wish to take up the time of the meeting 

 on a point going beyond the question that has brought us together, but I 

 have thought it right to direct attention to an argument which certainly 

 ought not to pass without challenge — namely, that the different races of 

 mankind necessarily prove anything as to the length of time man has 

 occupied a place on the globe. 



Rev. JosiAH Miller. — I should hke to offer a few remarks in addition to 

 those to which I have already listened with so much pleasure. It struck me 

 in Ji earing the paper which has been read to us, that, although it is an 



