The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-01-16
MANS EARLIEST ANCESTORS.
Naturalists Are Discussing Whether They Were Angle
worms Or HOLSTERS.

If you We're to ask an average man
of your acquaintance whether he sup
poses himself to be more closely re
lated to an angleworm or to a lobster,
he would doubtless regard the ques-
ton as either a joke or an insult Yet
precisely this question is exercising the
minds of the most celebrated natural
lists in the world today They cannot
agree among themselves about the mat
ter, and in consequence are arguing pro
and con with great vigor, as yet with
out reaching a final decision. The point
of the matter, stated a little more eX-
plicitly. is this: The animal kingdom
is divided into two great groups, called
vertebrates or back-boned animals,
and invertebrates. A distinct anatomi-
cal gap separates the two, for the
vertebrates all have spines and spinal
cords, while the invertebrates lack
these convenient members. Yet, ac-
cording to the evolutionists' way of
thinking, this gap has once been
bridged-for the vertebrates ha. .
evolved from some invertebrate. The
question in doubt is as to just which
tribe of invertebrates deserves the
honor of being regarded as the parent
of the vertebrates, and hence as the
lineai ancestor Of man. Professor
Charles Sedwick MinOt of Harvard has
been discussiong this question lately
with several of the most distinguished
Of the foreign naturalists.
The real gist Of the discussion hinged
about the question whether mans lineal
ancestor of pre- vertebrate days was
akin TO the angievorm or to the lobster
and horseshoe crab and scorpion But
unfortunately naturalists are given TO
pedantic and technical phraseOlogy, so
80. so Main q this
said outright. Yet the naturalists took
the most animated interest in what
they were saying. and the subject is
certainly one worth Interpreting for the
general reader. For who is not inter-
ested in his distinguished ancestors?
And who does not think it worth while
to know whether a worm or a lobster
is his nearer kin? The naturalists
talked of the ApDendicularia theory,
the Annelid theory, the AnthrOpod
theory etc, but their meaning will
have 10 be interpreted in terms less
pulling
THE ANNELID THEORY.
The anneiid theory. in plain English,
is the theory that the ancestor of the
vertebrates was a worm. allied TO the
form Of which the earthwOrm is the
most familiar example. 1t appears that
creatures OF this type have many struc-
turaI pecuIiarities that ally them TO the
lower vertebrates. But so, for that
matter. have various other of the tribes
of invertebrates. Indeed, so striking
are the similarities throughout the
animal kingdom, when viewed by the
trained eye, that, as DR.. Gaskell has re
marked whenever a naturalist gives
himself uD TO the study of any par
ficular group of the invertebrates he is
pretty sure 10 reach the conclusion
that this particular group represents
the nearest kin Of the vertebrates. But
in case of the higher worms, ii is not
merely the special students, but a
large number of general naturalists
who have become convinced of a close
affinity. OF course, the comparison is
made with the lowest vertebrates, that
is to say with the most primitive type
of fishes, represented by amphioxus
and the humphreys.
IN making this comparison, organ Tor
organ. The anatOmist has comparatively
plain sailing for a time. All animals
high and low, fulfill substantially the
same functions, and so possess corre-
snondine. organs TO a surprising degree
Thus the anatomist is able 20 homolc-
Else" as he calls it, the muscular sys-
tenn and digestive and breathing mech
snisrn ard heart Of the lower creature
with similar organs of the higher one
without much difficulty, notwitnstand-
ing details of structure that make them
seem very difficult to the uninitiated.
But the great stumbling block is reach
ed when he comes TO the most import
ant tissue of all. the nervous system
Not that the worm lacks TINS lnclspeh-
sable set of organs On the contrary, he
is supplied with q nervous system that
serves his needs admirably. But the
difficulty about il from the evolution
lists standpoint is its location. Instead
of lying on the dorsal side of the all