The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-17
MEN ARE KIN TO LoBsTERs.
Scientists Declare HOLSTERS and
Crabs Are Ancestors of the Human
Race.

Race.
From The Philadelphia Inquirer.
If you were to ask an average man Of
your acquaintance whether he supposes
himself to be more closely related TO an
angleworm or to a lobster, he would doubt
less regard the question as either a Joke
or an insult
Yet precisely this question is exercising
the minds of the most celebrated natural
lists in the world to-day. Thy cannot
agree among themselves about the matter
and in consequence are arguing pro and
con with great vigor, as yet without reach-
ing a final decision. The point of the
matter, stated a little more explicitly is
this:
The animal kingdom is divided into two
great groups, called vertebrates, or back
boned animals, and invertebrates. A DIS
tinct anatomical gap separates the two
for the vertebrates all have spines and
spinal cords, while the invertebrates lack
these convenient members. Yet, accord
ing to the evolutionists' way of thinking,
this gap has once been brdged-for the
vertebrates have evolved from some in
vertebrates. The question in doubt is as
to just which tribe of invertebrates de-
serve the honor of being regarded as The
parent of the vertebrates, and hence as
the lneal ancestor of man. Professor
Charles Sedgwick Minot, of Harvard, las
been discoursing this question lately with
several of the most distinguished of the
foreign naturalists.
The real gist of the discussion hineed
about the question whether mans lneal
ancestor of prevertebrate days was akin TO
the angleworm, or to the lobster and
horseshoe crab and scorpion. But, IN
fortunately, naturalists are given to red
hy1fr al nh
course, nothing as plain as this was said
outright Yet the naturalists took the most
animated interest in what they were Sav-
ing and the subject is certainly one worth
interpreting for the general reader For
who is not interested in his distinguished
ancestors? And who does not think il
worth while to know whether worm or
lobster is his nearest kin? The natural
lists talked of "the appendicularia theory.
the anneld theory, the anthropoid theory
etc, but their meaning will have to be
interpreted in terms less puzzling.
The annelid theory, in plain English, is
the theory that the ancestor of the verte-
brates 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 structural peculiaritieS
that ally them to the lower Vertebra ties.
But So for that matter, have various other
of the tribes of inverteb rates. Indeed, so
striking are the similarites throughout
the animal kingdom when viewed by the
trained eye, that, as DIR. Gasl1ill has re-
marked, whenever a naturalist gives him
self up to the study of any particular
group of the invertebrates he Is pretty sure
to reach the conclusion that this particu-
lar group represents the nearest Kin of
the vertebrates. But in case of higher
worms, 1t is not merely the special stud
ents, but a large number of general natu-
ralists who have become convinced of
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
lampreys.
In making this comparison, organ for
organ, the anatomist has comparatively
plain sailing for time. All animals high
and low, fulfill substantially the same
functions, and so possess corresponding
organs to a surprising degree Thus the
anatomiSt is able to "homologize, as ne
calls it. the muscular system and diges-
tive and breathing mechanism and heart
of the lower creature with similar organs
of the higher one without much difficulty,
notwithstanding details of structure tnat
make them seem very difficult to the I'M
initiated. But the great stumbling-hlo
is reached when he comes to the most i'm
portant tissue of all, the nervous system.
Not that the worm lacks this indispensable
set of organs. On the contrary, he IS sup
piled with a nervous system that serves lis
needs admirably. But the difficulty about
it from the evolutionist's standpoint rs its
location. Instead of lying on the dorsal
side of the alimentary tract, as it does in
every vertebrate, without exception, it re-
verses this position. Its long chain of gan
gila, linked by nerve cord, runs along
the lower side of the body, instead Of
along the back.
There are those at the meeting, how
ever. who demur very strongly to this view
of the case; in particular, DR.. Gaskill, the
famous London anatomist who has the
DRY of his own in the matter to defend.
This theory supposes that not the FORMS
but the jointed creatures, such as crabs
Holsters and insects, are the true ances-
tors we are looking for These creatures
present the same difficulty regarding the
enrvous system that is shown by the worm
but DIR. Gaskill believes that the fore
most ganglion, which does service for
brains in the insects, is the direct forerun-
ner of the brains of all higher creatures.
Heart Decisions How can man tell
when he is really in lover" ''Well-a man
is really in love when he thinks he doesn't