A first book in organic evolutionShute, D. Kerfoot (Daniel Kerfoot)
Science
A first book in organic evolution
Shute, D. Kerfoot (Daniel Kerfoot)
Evolution
Fig. 15 is introduced to show how easy may be the transitions from one
order of animals to another. Two long, slender Lizards are shown and
also a Snake. Bipes has four limbs, but they are very small and weak.
Cheirotes has lost, probably through disuse, the hind-limbs and the front
ones are small and weak, almost useless. The snake has no limbs at all.
The two lizards are quite snake-like in external forms. Just as changing
environment, use and disuse, etc., can effect transitions in external
forms by slight gradations, so also may the whole internal structures
undergo marked alterations by slight modifications through long ages.
The brief references we have made to the changing life-forms during the
geologic ages, should be very instructive even to a reader not familiar
with zoölogy. They teach the important lesson that life, in the main, has
ever advanced to higher and higher levels. At one time in the history of
the earth no animals were in existence higher than the Invertebrates;
these lived through the ages with ever-changing forms. Later, in the
course of geologic history, some of the primitive Invertebrates evolved
into the lowest Vertebrates, and Fishes finally appeared, at first
very primitive and generalized. For long ages there were no creatures
on the globe higher than these. Then as the æons slowly rolled on some
of the early fishes evolved finally into a higher group of animals,
the Amphibians, and these for long ages were the highest creatures in
existence. As time slowly passed, some of the primitive amphibians
evolved into primitive Reptiles, and these creatures for long ages were
the highest in existence and monarchs of the world. Some of the primitive
reptiles branched off in one direction leading to modern Birds, and some
advanced in another direction that led through primitive mammals to man
and other modern mammals. And now in modern times man is monarch among
the animals.
We may now begin to realize that truly with the changing and growing
continents during the geologic ages, many life-forms have varied and
advanced to higher levels, culminating in the final appearance of _man_
as well as other living creatures.
SECTION V.
NATURAL SELECTION.
NATURAL SELECTION.
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