For my own part, I would as soon be descended (. . .) from that old baboon, who, descending from the mountains, carried away in triumph his young comrade from a crowd of astonished dogs -as from a savage who delights to torture his enemies, offers up bloody sacrifices, practices infanticide without remorse, treats his wives like slaves, knows no decency, and is haunted by the grossest superstitions.'' [1] (emphasis added).It is, of course, a provocative remark that comes from a man who has already shocked a conservative society by demonstrating in 1858 that humans are animals that evolve. However, beyond this provocation lies a genuine