Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1881-03-22
For the OxFonD DEMOCRAT.
CONCERNING LIFE.

CONCERNING LIFE.
FRYERuRG CENTRE, March Is, 81.
The origin and development Of anima
life on our planet, is question upon
which naturalists disagree.
1t is now conceded by Biologists thai
one Of the primary conditions Of the earth
was an incandescent mass Of plastic mat
ter. In the long lapse of ages, it became
cool enough for water to rest on its sur.
face, forming shoreless ocean.
The first organisms were aquatic, and
consisted of molusks. nadicetis and artic.
ulates, some OF which are so nearly allied
to certain species Of the vegetable king
dom, that biologists are in doubt where
to make the classification. The ZOO
phyles belong to the lowest class oi
radiates. and bear strong resemblance
to flowers. and were formerly classed by
naturalists as marine plants, but nov
considered as true animals.
David Hume attributed animal life tc
the combination of certain elemental
substances in nature. Professor Hitch.
cock, Hugh Miller and Others, contend
that each distinct race was separately
brought into existence By the direct
agency OF an Intelligent Creative Power
Professor Darwin holds that all organic
forms, including the human family, are
derived by evolution from the lowest
types created. The character Of animals
which have heretofore existed and now
extinct. is determined by their fossil re-
mains found in the earth to the depth oi
six or seven miles. q There has been al
least, six successive creations since the
world began-inferior organisms passing
away, while those Of higher type took
their places, thus perfecting the wonder.
full chain Of diversified forms now in
existence, beginning with the 1nfusoria
thousands of which can dwell in single
drop Of water, or the microscopic animal
cules, requiring Al billions to make one
cubic inch Of the chalk formation OF ouI
globe, and ending with gigantic beasts
which roam the forests Of Africa, and Tho
marine monsters which plough the Arctic
seas.
The Sponge OF commerce, is one OF the
lowest animal organizations; 1t wa
formerly considered as plant, but now
universally acknowledged BY naturalists
to be a living animal. They are found
in warm countries, especially about the
Bahama Islands. attached to the rocks IN
deep water, and draw their sustenance
from the minute Algg which floats about
them.
The star fish is little higher in the
scale, and is one Of those rare cases where
animals created in the cambrion or lower
silurian period, have existed until the
present day. Life marched slowly in tie
early fossiliferous period, and it must
have been almost countless ages before
the vertebrate type made its appearance
Passing over the age of Molusk's III
the silurian formation, we come to the
Deyonian era, called the age Of fishes,
from the great abundance Of their re-
mains found in its beds, embracing many
wonderful species. The next higher
order created, were the reptilian race,
beginning with lizard about six inches
long, the first land animal ever fonnd
1t was discovered in some of the groups
of sand stone in Scotland. They flourish
ed throughout the carboniferous era. en-
bracing almost innumerable centuries.
There appeared transformation from
the fishes to the reptilian race, for there
frequented the Carboniferous seas, rep
tilian whale, mounted on huge paddles
with long, slender neck like serpent,
combining in one animal, the qualities OF
a reptile with that of fish.
The species of the reptilian group were
numerous, and grew to gigantic proper
tions-larger than any mammal now
found on this earth. A perfect thigh
bone has been discovered, nearly four
feet long, which naturalists say, indicate
the animal to be larger than the African
or Asiatic elephant. 1t was herbiverous
and lived ON the dense foliage which
covered the earth from the poles to the
equator.
The fossil remains Of carnivorous
lizard, has been discovered which shew
the animal to be at least 80 feet long,
and of proportionate height and thick
ness.
The remains of a reptilian bird. in.
dicate that it was an enormous denizeu
of the air and water. 1t had the head,
mouth and teeth of crocodile, the other,
characters of a bird. Its wings could
span 81 feet, and from its supposed
hideous aspect, is called the flying dragon
What strange period was this reptilian
age. Myriads Of the feathered tribes
frequented the nameless lakes in quest oi
mail-covered fishes, while gigantic reptiles
haunted the neighboring forest and
muddy regions, to seek their living prey
and the pterodactyl or flying dragon,
upborne on leathery wings, could beal
down the fleetest bird, or dive into the
briny deep to devour the scaly brood.
SCIENTIST.