Negroes, Mongols, Australians, etc., while yellows or browns are
visible throughout all the above types, as well as among Americans,
Malays, and Polynesians.
In the present mixed state of the population of the earth, it is perhaps
impossible to determine how far this opinion of Jacquinot may
he correct. We possess certainly many examples to prove that color
has been permanent for ages; while, on the contrary, it is impossible
to show that the complexion of a pure primitive stock has been
altered by climate. As before stated, we conceive that to o ;much
importance has been given to arbitrary classifications, and that the
Caucasian division may include innumerable primitive stocks. ■ This
fact is illustrated further on, particularly in the history of the Jews,
whose type? has been permanent for at least 3000 years. We have
no reason to believe that the Hebrew race sprang from, or ever originated,
any other type of man.
We therefore not merely regard the great divisions of Caucasian,
Mongol, Malay, Negro and Indian, as primitive stocks, hut shall establish
thatHistory, Anatomy, Physiology, Psychology, Analogy, allprove
that each of these stocks comprehends many original subdivisions.
Let us acknowledge our large indebtedness to Prof. Agassiz, who
has given the most masterly view of the geographical distribution of
animals written in our language, or perhaps in any other. Not a
line can he retrenched from his already condensed articles without
inflicting a wound, and we take much pleasure in referring the reader
to them.21 He shows, conclusively, that not only are there numerous
centres of creation, or zoological provinces, for our pending geological
epoch, hut that these provinces correspond, in a surprising
manner, to those of former epochas; thus proving that the Creator
has been working after one grand and uniform plan through myriads
of years, and through consecutive creations.
“ It ia satisfactorily ascertained at present, that there have been many distinct successive
periods, during each of which large numbers of animals and plants have been introduced
upon the surface of our globe, to live' and multiply for a timei then to disappear and be
replaced by other kinds. Of such distinct periods — such successive creations —• we know
now at least about a dozen, and there are ample indications that the inhabitants of our globe
have been successively changed at more epochs than are yet fully ascertained.”
In the earliest formations, hut few and distant patches of land having
emerged from the mighty deep, the created beings were comparatively
few, simple, and more widely disseminated; hut yet many distinct
species, adapted to localities where they were brought into existence,
are discovered. In the more recent fossil beds, we find a distribution
of fossil remains which agrees most remarkably with the present
geographical arrangement of animals and plants. The fossils
of modern geological periods in New Holland are fypes identical with
most of the animals now living there. Brazilian fossils belong to
the same families as those alive'there at the present day ; though in
both cases the fossil species are distinct from the surviving ones. If,
therefore, the organized beings of ancient geological periods had
arisen from one central point of distribution, to be dispersed, and
finally to become confined to those countries where their remains now
exist in a fossil condition; and if the animals now living had also
spread from a common origin, over the same districts, and had these
been circumscribed within equally distinct limits ; we should be led to
the unnatural supposition, argues A gas s iz , that animals of two distinct
creations, differing specifically throughout, had taken the same lines
of migration, had assumed finally the same distribution, and had
become permanent in the same regions without any other inducement
for removal and final settlement, than the mere necessity of covering
more extensive ground, after they had become too numerous to
remain any longer together in one and the same district.
Now it would certainly be very irrational to attribute such instincts
to animals, were such a line of march possible ; but the very possibility
vanishes, however, when we reflect upon the wide-spread physical
impediments opposing such migrations, and that neither the
animals nor plants of one province can flourish in an adverse one.
No Arctic animals or plants can be propagated in the Tropics, rior
vice versa. The whole of the Monkey tribe belong to a hot climate,
are retained there by their temperaments and instincts, and cannot
by any ingenuity of man be made to exist in Greenland. The same
rule applies to the aboriginal men of the Tropical and thè Arctic
regions.
That the animals and plants now existing on the earth must be
referred to many widely-distant centres of creation, is a fact which
might, if necessary, he confirmed by an infinite number of circumstances;
but these things are nowadays conceded by every well-
informed naturalist ; and if we have deemed it necessary to illustrate
them at all, it is because this volume may fall into the hands of some
possibly not versed in such matters.
Another question of much interest to our present investigation is
— Have ,all the individuals of each species of animals, plants, &c.,
descended from a single pair ? Were it not for the supposed scientific
authority of Genesis to this effect, the idea of community of origin
would hardly have occurred to any reflecting mind, because it involves
ihsuperable difficulties ; and science can perceive no reason why
the Creator should have adopted any such plan. Is it reasonable to
suppose that the Almighty would have created one seed of grass, one
10