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POPULAR SCIENCE REVIEW. 
decomposed into families, every one the progeny of a father and mother ; with 
each preceding generation the number of these families decreases until we 
arrive at the initial term of an unique ■primitive pair. 
“ Did this pair really exist, or were there at the commencement many pairs 
exactly alike ? This is a question of fact, with which science is unable to 
deal, for neither observation nor experience furnishes any data on this head.” 
The author is disposed to think that each species commenced with a single pair. 
And now we come to the application of these principles to the human 
inhabitants of the globe. If the crossing of various dissimilar groups of 
men were an impossible or even a difficult process, and in the latter case 
the resulting progeny barren, ( hybrids in fact,) then these groups would 
constitute species. If, however, the reverse be the case, and the result of an 
intermixing of these groups be characterized by the peculiarities of the 
mongrel, then, of course, the author considers himself justified in concluding 
that they are simply races or varieties. 
For the establishment of the latter position he collects and advances a 
great amount of testimony. We shall quote one or two of the most striking 
examples which it includes. 
Lislet Geoffroy, engineer in the Mauritius, was the son of a negress of 
humble origin, and of a Frenchman of good standing. “ In his colour, features, 
hair, and even in the characteristic odour, he reproduced all the peculiarities 
of the maternal race, but his intelligence and sentiments were entirely 
European.” The account concludes by stating that he died a corresponding 
member of the Institute of France. Another case cited, is one where of 
“ twins, who were incontestably proved to be by the same father,” the one 
possessed all the characteristics of the negro race, and the other those of the 
white. 
Again, it is shown that in Mexico there are at least fifteen intermediate grades 
bctiveen these two races. But, perhaps, the most striking evidence advanced by 
the author in favour of his theory is the publication of an ordinance in 
California, forbidding the marriage or intercrossing of the two races (white 
and black), under heavy penalties ; “ in which case,” says the author, “ the 
Californian legislature acts precisely in the same manner as the proprietor of 
a pure breed, which he desires to preserve from all admixture (deterioration) ; 
* ' x ‘ * it is in order to prevent the fusion , the amalgamation of 
races.” 
We cannot possibly follow the author through the remainder of his able work, 
in which he treats of crossed races of men ; of the influence of external condi- 
tions upon the production of such races ; of the theory of Agassiz (from 
which M. de Quatrefages dissents), who believes certain groups of men to 
have been distinctly created in various parts of the globe along with the 
fauna and flora by which they are surrounded. Nor can we accompany him in 
the consideration of theories concerning the migrations by which the various 
continents and islands were peopled from one centre. 
Suffice it to say that the author believes (on purely scientific grounds) not 
only that the human families have all had their origin in a single pair, but 
that all evidence tends to the conclusion that Central Asia was “ the first 
cradle of man,” from whence, radiating in every direction, “ the human tribes 
went forth to people the most distant solitudes.” 
