Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1884-03-27
ORIGIN OF THE EAR.
a Humorous History of Auricula-
Evoluti ION
Mouth. Nese, and Then Enrs--A Pair
In Plain Pattern. Three
Variations In Ara
bcsQue.
rSau Francisco Chronicle,

these columns to throw light on points neg
lected by the scientists. We have treated OF
the evolution of the mouth and the nose,
matters these gentlemen have feared to
touch upon, and now propose, not exactly
in the style Of French academician, to give
disquisition ON the evolution of the ear.
We must first briefly recapitulate.
THE PRoToPLAsMIC MOUTH.
There was no mouth in the first bit Of ami
mated protoplasm Its food passed into one
of its gclatinous sides and out at the other,
after leaving whatever amount of nourlsh-
ment it might contain. The sides opened
and closed for its passage, leaving 10 trace
Meanwhile, the scarcely animate being was
washed about on the shore of the pleistocene
seq. This was long before the plesiosaurus
and his congenels. There came at length
time when it was glued Or rooted to one spot
for several weeks, presenting one side only
for the recelt tion Of its food, which was con-
sequently obliged to pass for this period into
the body by the same opening. The oiifice
from habit remained open and became the
mouth into which all the creatures food
thereafter entered The evolution of the
mouth naturally preceded the Development
Of the nose
HOW THE NOSE GREW.
The nose was superior organ The being
must constantly eat and need not al"ayh
smell. The evolution of the nose probably
happened in this wise, but very slowly. IL
is known that the sensation of smell is caused
by emanations from the oaorous body. In
this early period the decaying marine matter
often emitted terrible ,tliuviun. The
mouth needed warning before fastening on
lol ~, int,
lase and was neither pervious to smell
nor could it move backward from
the offensive object. But the soft
Frotoplasn above it had the yielding
quality. When tie mouth approached
some spcc;a ly disgusting article of food tho
place for the nose shrunk away, causing
depression, which in time developed into the
perfect nostrI!s Of tho finely organize, ami
NAL. On the contrary, when the smell OF
tie food which the mouth seemed about to
close upon w"s appeti2ins the soft protoplasm
went loncingly out toward it, the projection
gradually hardening into protub.ranco
which ftaliy became prob sci, in the ela-
plant an in the Mob Fill belle the finely
formed Glecian projection that is now her
most charming feature. In this gradual,
elementary ami convincing way We approach
EVOLVING TUE EAR.
The ear is known in humorous rcpoltorial
speech as an "aurcuar appendage." This is
happy euphemism, but throws no light on
the ears origin. But it is clear, even to the
non scientifc--that is, to that class who take
their science from the newspapers in an adul-
terstcd fnIm--that the ear must have been
evolved long after the nose and mouth IL
we say 5UO,NO years after the latter we stand
no chance of contradiction, for even Mr..
Huxley, well informed scientist as he is has
no definite knowlc ge pertaining to the sub
jet. The mouth only operated by contact.
Tie n,se o,erntcd u: limited distances, or rs
far as the ei.luvium was transmitted. Bat
the car, as always constructed was open to
the sound waves Il at brought the roll and
rumble of nature and the rush of winds from
remote world spaces to the dull brain of the
unthinhing monster which lay prone i'll the
ooza and reeds OF the primal world To these
sound-waves Tie ear undoubtedly owed its
origin.
COUPLE OF EN-.
Bat why We're there two cars and why
were they placed on the sides of the hendi
When tuey began to develop the mouth and
nose Lad become hard and unyieldng feat
ur,s. Sound waves could make no impress
sion on either The nose was sensitive to
powerful odors only 1t may be consid, red
Us q settled scientific fact that were there no
ears !ha brain would perceive loud soun Is
through the skull merely by the agitation
caused by the shock. But with tube ope.l-
Ing inwari, as q trumpet, the delicate system
of attached nerves and the shell of the ear
acting as a sounding board, the delicate
qualities of the instrument became possible.
When, then, there was all agitation in the
vicinity of the partially developed animal it
would naturally turn toward the direction
from which the noise seemed to come the
PARTS of the head most sensitive to the vibra-
tons. These would be tie sides, still gela
tinous, and not far from the brain, one side
being turned and then another according to
the animals convenience.
PLAIN PATTERN.
In this way a gradual depression woul bs
made, which in time would become fixed
habit of the part, ending in a definite form
Ike that which the ear and its appurtenances
have at present, but far more primitive Tho
admirable convolutons must have been
wanting. There was then music, with its
fle-,lrawn harmonies, to listen to. There
were no keyholes to listen at. There was no
breath of scandal whose whisper required
that delicate sense of hearing now SO marvel
ously developed in tie female of the human
species The principal noises were the DASH
ing of the waves, the rushing of the wind
through forests of giant ferns the roar and
crackie of volcanic eruptions and the rough
ntrticuiate vo.ces of tie formess animals
that peopled the wild waste of waters There
was no need then Of q projecting ear. A
bearing apparatus like that of the whale or
seal, a depr ss!on, a tube with a few nerves
was quite sufficient to catch and distinguish
the simple sounds Of early nature.
LONG DRAWN OUT.
The projection that defends the car came
later But by what process of developlrnti
A projecting ear would not be probably
needed by sea animals and might be incon-
venient a delicate sense of hearing depend
ing on the vibrations of the air is impossible
in water When animals began to live on
land their dangers increased. Whether the
development of the eye followed OF preceded
that of the ear no one can tell. 1t is prob
able the ear was developed first. Land ami
mails especially require both senses. 1t seems
probable that when amphibious animals first
found it necessary to be on the alert for their
enemies the ear did not project from the
side of the head But instinct soon showed
them that some protection of the hearing
olitice aided in catching the sound. In the
effort to hear, the portion OF the head near
the ear opposite the place whence the sound
came would be slightly followed or raised.
This elevation of the fish or skin woul be-
come permanent with habit and developed by
use.
ALL SORTS AND SIZES.
4 development proceeded the projection
would taks many FORMS according to the
nerds or ;cculiarities of the animals, as "