10. The causes which thus preceded the appearance of a new
assemblage of organized beings were the destruction of many species of
animals, and probably also of plants, either forms of extremely local
distribution, or such as were not capable of enduring many changes of
conditions -- species, in short, with very limited capacity for horizontal
or vertical diffusion. 11. All the changes before, during, and after the
glacial epoch appear to have been gradual, and not sudden, so that no marked
line of demarkation can be drawn between the creatures inhabiting the same
element and the same locality during two proximate periods."] -- Tr.
The different races of mankind are forms of one sole species, by the union
of two of whose members descendants are propagated. They are not different
species of a genus, since in that case their hybrid descendants would remain
unfruitful. But whether the human races have descended from several
primitive races of men, or from one alone, is a question that can not be
determined from experience."*
[footnote] *Joh. Muller, 'Physiologie des Menschen', bd. ii., s. 768.
Geographical investigations regarding the ancient 'seat', the so-called
'cradle of the human race', are not devoid of a mythical
p 355
character.
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