RECORD: Darwin, C. R. [1857-1870]. In regard to Those who make man a sub-Kingdom [i.e. Owen]. CUL-DAR80.B35-B36. Edited by John van Wyhe (The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 10.2021. RN3

NOTE: See record in the Darwin Online manuscript catalogue, enter its Identifier here. Reproduced with permission of the Syndics of Cambridge University Library and William Huxley Darwin. The volumes CUL-DAR80-86 contain material for Darwin's book Descent of man (1871).


[B35]

(1

In regard to Those who make man a sub-Kingdom, we very confidently believe, seeing Homology & Embryology, that if we imagine some other being classifying him, such an idea wd never enter his head.

Owen archencephala not followed, as far as I know by anyone.

The best judges in England place man with Ch. G. Orang & Gibbons gaps as [forming] together from their mutual relations being closer than with other apes, a division. This is no doubt a broken group man very distinct in corporal structure - development of brain & adaptive resemblances to erect position, but these not generally thought of paramount importance.

I am aware of Gratiolet's view not admitted by Huxley or in fact by Owen?

[B36]

(2

See Martin

{These Anthropomorph apes form one division, Semnopithecus & Cynocephali another;

whether these 3 divisions of equal value & branch off from same part of genealogical tree I will not pretend to decide. All 3 groups from the old world apes & the new world consist of 2 groups about which it is doubtful whether they branch off from one point - But the old & new world form 2 or 3 main divisions, & all have so much in common &c &c. Hence Orangs, including man descended from some monkey-like creature.

Lastly the Quadrumana of old & new worlds together with Lemuridæ form 2 great stems, which together compose the Primates

Owen, Richard. 1859. On the classification and geographical distribution of the mammalia, being the lecture on Sir Robert Reade's foundation, delivered before the University of Cambridge, in the Senate-House, May 10, 1859. To which is added an appendix "on the gorilla," and "on the extinction and transmutation of species." London: John W. Parker and Son. Text Richard Owen proposed to place man not only in a distinct order, but in "a distinct sub-class of the Mammalia", the Archencephala. Darwin praised the review: Huxley, Thomas Henry. 1861. On the zoological relations of man with the lower animals. Natural History Review 8: 67-84. [CUL-DAR.LIB.PER-U863] PDF. Darwin wrote in Descent 1: 187-8: "This view has not been accepted, as far as I am aware, by any naturalist capable of forming an independent judgment."


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Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

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