ariety of distinctions, all incapable of
zoological definition; or, if capable of definition, eminently
unnatural. There are, in short, no missing links between the varieties
of men corresponding to that which obtains between man and lower
animals.

3. The races of men differ in those points in which the higher animals
usually vary with the greatest facility. The physical characters
chiefly relied on have been color, character of hair, and form of
skull, together with diversities in stature and general proportion.
These are precisely the points in which our domestic races are most
prone to vary. The manner in which these characters differ in the
races of men may be aptly illustrated by a few examples of the
arrangements to which they lead.

Dr. Pickering, of the U. S. Exploring Expedition[166]--who does not,
however, commit himself to any specific distinctions--has arranged the
various races of men on the very simple and obvious ground of color.
He obtains in this way four races--the White, the Brown, the
Blackish-brown, the Black. The distinction is easy; but it divides
races historically, philologically, and structurally alike; and unites
those which, on other grounds, would be separated. The white race
includes the Hamite Abyssinian, the Semitic Arabian, the Japhetic
Greek. The Ethiopian or Berber is separated from the cognate
Abyssinian, and the dark Hindoo from the paler races speaking like him
tongues allied to the Sanscrit. The Papuan, on the other hand, takes
his place with the Hindoo; while the allied Australian must be content
to rank with the Negro; and the Hottentot is promoted to a place
beside the Malay. It is unnecessary to pursue any farther the
arrangement of this painstaking and conscientious inquirer. It
conclusively demonstrates that the color of the varieties of the human
race must be arbitrary and accidental, and altogether independent of
unity or diversity of origin.

Some use has been made, by the advocates of diversity of species, of
the quality of the hair in the different races. That of the Negro is
said to be flat in its cross section--in this respect approaching to
wool; that of the European is oval; and that of the Mongolian and
American round.[167] The subject has as yet been very imperfectly
investigated; but its indications point to no greater variety than
that which occurs in many domesticated animals--as, for instance, the
hog and sheep. Nay, Dr. Carpenter states[168]--and the writ