Chap. VI. 
AFFINITIES ANT) GENEALOGY. 
185 
• CHAPTER VI. 
On the Affinities and Genealogy of Man. 
Position of man in the animal series — The natural system genea- 
logical — Adaptive characters of slight value — Various small 
points of resemblance between man and the Quadrumana — 
Rank of man in the natural system — Birthplace and antiquity 
of man — Absence of fossil connecting-links — Lower stages in 
the genealogy of man, as inferred, firstly from his affinities and 
secondly from his structure — Early androgynous condition of 
the Vertebrata — Conclusion. 
Even if it be granted that the difference between man 
and his nearest allies is as great in corporeal structure as 
some naturalists maintain, and although we must grant 
that the difference between them is immense in mental 
power, yet the facts given in the previous chapters 
declare, as it appears to me, in the plainest manner, 
that man is descended from some lower form, notwith- 
standing that connecting-links have not hitherto been 
discovered. 
Man is liable to numerous, slight, and diversified 
variations, which are induced by the same general 
causes, are governed and transmitted in accordance 
with the same general laws, as in the lower animals. 
Man tends to multiply at so rapid a rate that his off- 
spring are necessarily exposed to a struggle for existence, 
and consequently to natural selection. Pie has given 
rise to many races, some of which are so different that 
they have often been ranked by naturalists as distinct 
species. His body is constructed on the same homo- 
logical plan as that of other mammals, independently 
of the uses to which the several parts may be put. He 
