The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1889-07-13
ouRlosIrIEs OF NATURE.
An Interesting Lecture the Lower
Forms of Animal Life.

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An Interesting Lecture on tho Lower
Forms of Animal Life.
DR.. w. l. johnson lectured recently
in the hall of the Cooper Medical Col
lege. San Francisco taking for his
theme, "The Lower Forms OF Animal
Lif7." He treated his subject in u
popular manner. With illusions Sc
lected from classical authors, not
wholly devoid OF humor, he commenced
the lecture by asserting that oysters.
although having no head, were capa-
BILE of being educated.
"lf the shell of the adult be ex-
nmined," said he, 1.-The overlapping
shoots will be found to represent the
years growth, and thus the logic of
nature is illustrated. The rings on the
bole of tree are counted to learn its
age, and a jockey fixes the age OF a
horse by its teeth.
THE lower forms of animal life have
as keen an appreciation OF the forces
OF nature as man.
THE pholades may be cited in IL
lustration. Their teeth resemble in
some measure a rasp or file and form u
good weapon in boring and perforating
the rocks. Brunei the great engineer,
gained valuable information from
watching the habits of the ship worm,
and much benefit has resulted to man
from closely watching the habits of the
lower animal world.
''The whelk is one of the class pos
sessing a head. 1t possesses u boring
instrument calculated to fill the heart
of an engineer with envy. On the sea
beach you may find shells perforated
with holes, certain sign they have
surrendered their lives to one of this
family.
sin the Linqual ribbons the teeth
are of the most extraordinary kind and
number-it has been estimated 2S,000
The snail, which possesses stomach,
liver and intestines, marks decided
progression. The Roman, or edible
snail, in addition to being an article of
food, was regarded as being u certain
cure for consumption. In England it
is Il general belief that the flavor of the
Southdown mutton is owing to the sheep
feeding on this snail. The removal OF
the head causes little and but tenn
porary inconvenience, as it is speedily
reproduced.
"The starfish in its form gives little
idea regarding its powers of locomo-
tion. Under each ray may be found
red spot, containing crystal lenses help
full in food. Professor Forbes states
that once while examining a starfish
the eye at the end of the tentacle
opened and shut as if actuated by rea-
soning power. The sca-urchin also
contains eyes, but not so perfect as in
the starfish. Five teeth, strong and
symmetrical, work sad havoc, despite
the fact that they live on vegetarian
diet.
1.-THE crab in its carly stages resem-
bles the shrimp; but after losing its coat
several times. its back becomes broad
and it attains the well-known form of
the crab. Creeping into the darkest
place it can find, the female with diff
Guilty and pain loses her shell. Many
varieties possess very curious charac-
teristics. The robber crab of the Maui
ritius, the land crab of the West Indies
and the frog-crab of India are only
few of the peculiar varieties. The
oyster crab is considered choice NOR
sci in the East. and is said to have been
a favorite delicacy with George WASH
ington.
THE hermit-crab, not being provi-
ded by nature with coat of mail, seeks
IL refuge in the cast-off whelk Shells
Being of highly combative nature,
their fights, while perhaps not accord
ing to Queensberry rules, are certainly
'to a finish
THE jelly fish ranges in size from
the dimensions of a coffee bean to a
size as large as I'm umbrella, with ten
tacles one hundred feet long. A jelly
fish that has had the eye specks re-
moved makes no effort to seek the light.
A responsive stimulus is distinctly man.
ifested, and intelligent action appears
to denote nervous system.
Every animal organism is made up
of cells. The nerves. ganglia and brain
of higher-life forms and their equiva-
lents in the cells of the lower forms of
animal life. San Francisco Alta.