REDMEN ; SOME OF THEIR THOUGHTS. 1 1 
the modern view. It is that in the former no limitations 
have as yet been recognized either to possible differ- 
ences of bodily form, or to the power of the spirit 
belonging to each body to change the form of its own 
body, or even, in the case of some spirits of very superior 
cunning, to change the form of other bodies. 
The Redman realizes no limits to the possible differ- 
ences of bodily forms. By differences of bodily form, it 
should be explained, is here meant the exact opposite of 
what used to be called, or rather miscalled, ' fixity of 
species.' Till, so to speak recently, the great fa£t of 
evolution was learned it was assumed by scientific civi- 
lized men that the distinguishing qualities of each spe- 
cies were fixed and absolutely unalterable ; now, it is 
recognized, though the somewhat misleading term, 
1 fixity of species' is retained for its convenience, that 
these specific qualities are in reality variable, but only 
very gradually and in stricl dependence on natural law. 
Any real fixity of species, after being long firmly ac- 
cepted, has now therefore been rejected. Yet in thus 
accepting variability of species modern science has in no 
way returned toward the belief of the primitive thinker, 
which belief is in the variability, sudden and in depend- 
ence on no natural law, of each individual being. 
The unquestioning acceptance by the Redman of the 
existence not only of animals which he can never have 
seen, such as elephants, giraffes and kangaroos, when I 
have described and drawn these to test his powers of 
belief, but also of perfectly impossible animals, such as 
the dragons, unicorns, griffins, and the horned, hoofed and 
tailed devils of our own folklore, when I have described 
these alsQ to him, illustrates his ready acceptance of the 
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