NEBULA TO MAN 
Though will they there be hustled for long whiles, 175 
Till Madagascar and the neighbouring isles, 
Once one with mainland, will afford their race 
A last and isolated resting-place. 
Already some divergences have come 
Amongst " progressives " of old Lemurdom. 1 80 
To monkeys and baboons some forms seem tending, 
Whilst others, more developed, seem ascending 
To rank of man-like apes ; as they might be 
Of apes and man a common ancestry. 
See here the while his consort laves the child, 185 
Proud Pliopithecus in antics wild. 
Though chimpanzee he be in point of size, 
With gibbons holds he close affinities. 
And may not stock as this, in times ahead, 
Split and re-split, outstriking lines that lead 190 
To gibbon apes, gorillas, chimpanzees, 
Orangs and Man, as separate families ? 
(For apes developed as to-day we see 
Ne'er stood direct in human pedigree.) 
Continuous uplift now has made secure 195 
Columbia's big broad lands from shore to shore ; 
And cooler made the long warm temperature. 
But not as yet along the south east coast 
Has all the land, that in times past was lost 
142 
