Part 49

Note 71: p. 298.--Right and Wrong in Monkeys.

What is said here should be compared with the discussion of the subject in Darwin’s Descent of Man, Romanes’s Mental Evolution in Animals, or perhaps most conveniently in Lloyd Morgan’s Introduction to Comparative Psychology (Lond. 1894). According to the last-named authority the moral sense “involves a thinking of the ought; it involves a more or less definite perception of the relation of a given act to an ideal standard”. “In none of these cases (cited), is there sufficient evidence to justify a belief that a standard of conduct takes form in the animal mind.”

Note 72: p. 303.--Mutual Aid among Monkeys.

Mr. Darwin quotes this case in his Descent of Man, and calls the monkey “a true hero”. Similar examples of mutual aid will be found in the same work, as also in a couple of articles by Prince Kropotkine, “Mutual Aid among Animals”, Nineteenth Century, 1889.

Note 73: p. 316.--Effect of age.

There are some who hold that observation favours the opposite view, that the young ape is relatively more human and less simian than the adult. With these, rather than with Brehm, we agree. There is, however, need of more precise physiological and psychological observation.

Note 74: p. 318.--Man’s Place in Nature.

It should be noted that the zoologist’s usual statement of his position is that he believes that men and the higher apes have arisen from a common stock. See Huxley’s Man’s Place in Nature. As the anthropoid apes are believed to have diverged as distinct types in Miocene times, the common stock is plainly in the almost inconceivably distant past. A belief in descent from a common stock does not in the least affect the demonstrable distinctiveness of man, nor does it explain how the evolution, whose results we are, took place. See Darwin’s Descent of Man, and Drummond’s Ascent of Man.

DESERT JOURNEYS.

Note 75: p. 330.--Nodules in the Desert.

These seem to be the now well-known manganese nodules. The puzzling question of their origin is discussed by Dr. John Murray in that part of the Challenger Reports which deals with marine deposits. Solymos thus describes them, “Belted by higher hills, I have mounted one, apparently consisting entirely of a lofty pile of hardened equal sandstone balls, the size of peaches. They were as nearly globular as anything in nature--a bubble, a drop, a planet.”

NUBIA AND THE NILE RAPIDS.

For some interesting geological and zoological observations see A. Leith Adams, Notes of a Naturalist in the Nile Valley and Malta (1870). J. H. Speke, Journal of the Discovery of the Source of the Nile (1864).

Note 76: p. 358,--On the Nile and its Cataracts.

See Sir Samuel Baker’s The Nile and its Tributaries (1867), and Walter Budge, The Nile: Notes for Travellers in Egypt (1890).

Note 77: p. 359.--Syenite.

Syenite, a hard crystalline rock, resembling granite, and well adapted for monuments. It is not known in Britain, but occurs in many parts of Europe and America, as well as at the place to which it owes its name.

Note 78: p. 362.--Philæ.

Philæ has recently been a centre of attention in connection with the Egyptian waterworks. See Sir Benjamin Baker, “Nile Reservoirs and Philæ”, Nineteenth Century, xxxv. (1894), pp. 863-72; J. P. Mahaffy, “The Devastation of Nubia”, pp. 1013-18; Frank Dillon, “The Submergence of Philæ”, pp. 1019-25; H. D. Pearsall, “The Nile Reservoirs”, Scottish Geographical Magazine (1895, August), pp. 393-402.

Note 79: p. 370.--Government of Egypt.

The reader must bear in mind that Egypt has had a somewhat complex political history since Brehm wrote.

A JOURNEY IN SIBERIA.

Note 80: p. 397.--Archar Sheep.

Archar or arkal is the Kirghiz name for the Mongolian argali (Ovis ammon). The animal is almost as large as a donkey, has enormous horns and short coarse hair. It is said to be now restricted to Northern Mongolia, and some districts of Southern Siberia. The Tibetan argali (Ovis hodgsoni) is closely allied. See Sir V. Brooke, Proc. Zoological Society, 1875.

Note 81: p. 412.--Splenic Fever.

Anthrax or splenic fever is a rapidly fatal disease due to a microbe, Bacillus anthracis. This was demonstrated by Koch, and corroborated by Pasteur. The latter discovered how to attenuate the virus, and secure immunity by inoculation. Cattle, sheep, and reindeer are among the commonest victims; but, as the narrative shows, man himself is not exempt.

THE HEATHEN OSTIAKS.

Note 82: p. 426.--Present state of Ostiaks.