The Antiquity of Man | Page 7

AND TRANSMUTATION.
Antiquity and Persistence in Character of the existing Races of
Mankind. Theory of their Unity of Origin considered. Bearing of the
Diversity of Races on the Doctrine of Transmutation. Difficulty of
defining the Terms "Species" and "Race." Lamarck's Introduction of
the Element of Time into the Definition of a Species. His Theory of
Variation and Progression. Objections to his Theory, how far answered.
Arguments of modern Writers in favour of Progression in the Animal
and Vegetable World. The old Landmarks supposed to indicate the first
Appearance of Man, and of different Classes of Animals, found to be
erroneous. Yet the Theory of an advancing Series of Organic Beings
not inconsistent with Facts. Earliest known Fossil Mammalia of low
Grade. No Vertebrata as yet discovered in the oldest Fossiliferous
Rocks. Objections to the Theory of Progression considered. Causes of
the Popularity of the Doctrine of Progression as compared to that of
Transmutation.

CHAPTER 21.
ON THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES BY VARIATION AND NATURAL
SELECTION.
Mr. Darwin's Theory of the Origin of Species by Natural Selection.
Memoir by Mr. Wallace. Manner in which favoured Races prevail in
the Struggle for Existence. Formation of new Races by breeding.
Hypotheses of definite and indefinite Modifiability equally arbitrary.
Competition and Extinction of Races. Progression not a necessary
Accompaniment of Variation. Distinct Classes of Phenomena which
Natural Selection explains. Unity of Type, Rudimentary Organs,

Geographical Distribution, Relation of the extinct to the living Fauna
and Flora, and mutual Relations of successive Groups of Fossil Forms.
Light thrown on Embryological Development by Natural Selection.
Why large Genera have more variable Species than small ones. Dr.
Hooker on the Evidence afforded by the Vegetable Kingdom in favour
of Creation by Variation. Steenstrup on alternation of Generations.
How far the Doctrine of Independent Creation is opposed to the Laws
now governing the Migration of Species.

CHAPTER 22.
OBJECTIONS TO THE HYPOTHESIS OF TRANSMUTATION
CONSIDERED.
Statement of Objections to the Hypothesis of Transmutation founded
on the Absence of Intermediate Forms. Genera of which the Species are
closely allied. Occasional Discovery of the missing Links in a Fossil
State. Davidson's Monograph on the Brachiopoda. Why the Gradational
Forms, when found, are not accepted as Evidence of Transmutation.
Gaps caused by Extinction of Races and Species. Vast Tertiary Periods
during which this Extinction has been going on in the Fauna and Flora
now existing. Genealogical Bond between Miocene and Recent Plants
and Insects. Fossils of Oeningen. Species of Insects in Britain and
North America represented by distinct Varieties. Falconer's Monograph
on living and fossil Elephants. Fossil Species and Genera of the Horse
Tribe in North and South America. Relation of the Pliocene Mammalia
of North America, Asia, and Europe. Species of Mammalia, though less
persistent than the Mollusca, change slowly. Arguments for and against
Transmutation derived from the Absence of Mammalia in Islands.
Imperfection of the Geological Record. Intercalation of newly
discovered Formation of intermediate Age in the chronological Series.
Reference of the St. Cassian Beds to the Triassic Periods. Discovery of
new organic Types. Feathered Archaeopteryx of the Oolite.

CHAPTER 23.
ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF LANGUAGES AND SPECIES
COMPARED.
Aryan Hypothesis and Controversy. The Races of Mankind change
more slowly than their Languages. Theory of the gradual Origin of
Languages. Difficulty of defining what is meant by a Language as
distinct from a Dialect. Great Number of extinct and living Tongues.
No European Language a Thousand Years old. Gaps between
Languages, how caused. Imperfection of the Record. Changes always
in Progress. Struggle for Existence between rival Terms and Dialects.
Causes of Selection. Each Language formed slowly in a single
Geographical Area. May die out gradually or suddenly. Once lost can
never be revived. Mode of Origin of Languages and Species a Mystery.
Speculations as to the Number of original Languages or Species
unprofitable.

CHAPTER 24.
BEARING OF THE DOCTRINE OF TRANSMUTATION ON THE
ORIGIN OF MAN, AND HIS PLACE IN THE CREATION.
Whether Man can be regarded as an Exception to the Rule if the
Doctrine of Transmutation be embraced for the rest of the Animal
Kingdom. Zoological Relations of Man to other Mammalia. Systems of
Classification. Term Quadrumanous, why deceptive. Whether the
Structure of the Human Brain entitles Man to form a distinct Sub-class
of the Mammalia. Intelligence of the lower Animals compared to the
Intellect and Reason of Man. Grounds on which Man has been referred
to a distinct Kingdom of Nature. Immaterial Principle common to Man
and Animals. Non-discovery of intermediate Links among Fossil
Anthropomorphous Species. Hallam on the compound Nature of Man,
and his Place in the Creation. Great Inequality of mental Endowment in
different Human Races and Individuals developed by Variation and

ordinary Generation. How far a corresponding Divergence in physical
Structure may result from the Working of the same Causes. Concluding
remarks.
NOTES.