The times., 1901-04-07
PUZZLES THE BIOLOGIST
The Common Turtle and His
Anatomy a Subject for Study.
He Wunders Around I'm the SwRmps
With His substantial Body Encas-
ed Within Bcnes-Dis-ertation of "a
Nnturafist-TrHyels on His shape.

well-known naturalist was found in
his study in the National Museum by a
Times reporter one day last week. gazing
earnestly at sprawling turtle which he
gripped firmly with both hands. He was
saying something in an undertone which
the reporter failed to catch as he entered
the room
What have you there?' the naturalist
was asked
Young man, my professional reputa-
ton and fortune would be made IL 1
could answer that question" was the re-
ply. 1T is a turtle. know You can
find any number of them in the swamps
and pools around Washington, but let me
tell YOU this turtle comes from a species
of animal which has bothered the biolc-
gist more than any other species in the
animal kingdom. This strange creature
is a reptile; in fact, one Of the highest
orders OF reptiles. He has taken excep-
ton to the scheme of nature so far as his
bones are concerned and has planned out
a skeleton on his own hook which is not
only ingenious but extremely interesting
to the student OF animal life This erea-
ture has actually pushed his ribs outside
of his body and wears them over him
like a sunshade or umbrella. All other
animals are content to wear their ribs
inside their bodies. but not so the turtle.
and why he does not is what is puzzling
the brains of naturalists who have con-
sumed barrels of midnight oil in trying
to find out. He is a good deal like a man
on hot day In summer, whose discOm-
fort prompts him TO doff his coat vest
collar, and finally his suspenders. Now
this turtle seems 10 have found his bones
uncomfortable and he has not only shifted
them around to suit his tastes but has
actually sought to get rid of some of his
bones as unnecessary incumbrances.
Now wouldn't that jar your" skeptf-
caIy said The Times man.
Come now, don't be frivolous" said
his friend reproyingly. This is a serious
matter 1t is a question OF tremendous
biological Importance. Not satisfied with
turning his ribs out of doors so TO speak
the turtle has pulled his shoulder blades
inside his ribs and, TO all intents and pur-
poses, hinges his legs and neck 70 the
under surface Of his upper shell. He and
the snake are the only creatures who
can successfully travel on their shape.
for the shell of the turtle is in fact a
part OF the creatures anaton--. not sim
ply shell-cOvering like that of an oys-
ter or clam, but component part of him.
He sleeps within himself. He takes up
his bed and walks whenever he starts
out p journey.
Now. the puzzle is how did he do IL?
What were the causes within and with
departure from the general scheme of
bOny framework which nature has select
ed as the one best adapted TO the needs
OF the higher order of animal life2 Even
his skin has changed All the reptiles have
scales on their skin. These are for pro-
lection, but the scales OF the turtle have
become practically bones which have
grown to the ribs on the outside and
formed with them a solid shell which
almost completely envelOps him.
ping turtle Looking at the inside. you
VIII see the ribs very clearly outlined but
welded together into what appears solid
mass of bone. At first glance it looks as
if the ribs themselves had expanded into
fiattened blades like the blade of an car.
But if YOU look closer you Will perceive
that such is not the case. for there is
clearly defined line of demarcatiOn in
which the ribs are seen 10 be no more
brOadened than one would expect TO find
in an animal of such a high order as the
turtle. Now. as a matter OF fact, the
ribs have not expanded, but the scales on
the skin have thickeHed and broadened
until solid covering of scale plates sup
ported, in part by the ribs as a sort OF
framework. has been welded into a shell
through which his legs, head. and tail
prOtrude. Unlike most animals the tur-
tie lives within himself. He is always at
home How ne ever got his shoulder
blades inside of his ribs no one knows.
Every animal has them outside The tur-
tie is the despair of the naturalist
With only an exception here and there.
biologists are agreed that external en-
NlrOnment Is the initial influence which
sets in motion forces within animals
which produce variations in form and
structure. There is no doubt in my mind
that external changed environment is and
always has been the cause which gave
origin to the various species of both ami
mails and plants.
There seems to be a principle in animal
and plant life Of adaptation TO external
environment which is inherent. This
principle lies dormant and inactive within
the body Of the animal or plant until some
changed condition in the outward sur
rOundlngS has taken place such, for eX-
ample, as climate. moisture or dryuess,
food both as 10 quantity and quality,
mode of life, and so forth When nature
created matter, iuanimdte and animate,
she established certain laws TO control it.
Evidence Is all around us that the process
OF creating is still going on. Old forms
are modifying and new ones are develop
ing Just as they always have been doing.
All this Is due 20 changing environment.
Now, II is obvious that a law of nature
cannot be broken 10 satisfy the needs of
a certain kind or species of life already
created
when an animal is created it is made
to best fit the conditions which surround
ii at the time; that is, its form and
nature are made especially adapted TO the
environment. Now. suppose. in obedience
to some law of creation. a change should
take place in the external surroundings
That change must of necessity be un-
favorable to the we'll being of this animal.
1t would either be obliged 10 move to a
external conditions still prevail or eventu-
ally perish and become extinct.
Now, nature did not create a species
capriciously, to live one day and die the
next. When she made that animal IL
was for a definite purpose. That animal
was created to DO its part in furthering
some great plan or end TO which all crea-
tiOn seems to be working continuously
Nature abhOrS total annihilati0n when
there is no need for it. So. in order 10
save the animal. since she cannot break
a law to aid it. she creates a new law and
places il. so TO speak within the animal
itself. This is the law Of adaptation to
external environment by which. if changes
take place around the creature. this law
makes changes in him; changes which
Will adapt him to the altered conditions
in which he now finds himself. These
changes in the animal will go on to an
extent as to form an entirely new species
which does not resemble his former type
in the least Old organs which played an
essential part in keeping our animal alive
and hearty viii eventually disappear and
be SUpDlanted by new structures. which
do the work neCesSitated by the changed
conditions in which he now lives.
Radical changes in animal structure
and form are more apt 10 be found in a
species which cannot get away from its
changed environment. In those animals
which can move rapidly to more favor
able environments changes in structure
this turtle belongs. Evidently his anCes-
tors could not get away from their sur
and had To be changed to suit
new conditions The new environment
must have been relentless in its demands
for modification, for the change that has
taken place in the turtle mas been a rO-
found one. 1t has fairly taken his bones
out of his body. Ii was so inimical TO
his substance as To Hecessitate a hard.
thick covering for his body.
Just what those changes were which
surrounded the ancestors of this turtle,
and When they existed. and what changes
in the earths surface precipitatcd them,