The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-08-18
DISCOVER SURVIVOR Of FOSSIL
ANIMAL Of 100000 YEARS AGO

Chicago. Aug. II For 5000 600 years
one OF the few survivors Of tho fossil.
animals has lived n Businesses Of what
Is now South America. Nsuc Years ago
IL wae discovered by an exploring *
ped,tion OF tho Field Museum OF Nat
ural fIhsspry. The MUSEUM has Just
published Isaernrst srIcnttnc report ON
IS And
SpcaE ITr today OF Ms discovery. DIT.
wilrred Il. O-ru"i OF the Field Museum
named s,>-rr~ Of rs c"aturcs
Through all th->s- agrs this animal
has rnr;irucd reproducing !,scIt with
ont important change.
- Is ono OF me most notable examples
o" the ''S.mp'. ifo."
- ,hA otter animals OF It's group
,..Nr u..rr'v Naui,h,.d or bceu turned 10
~.n.., n.adv~tl- 81 thousands OF years.
?. asi,S hack ~ the period when the
Warm L,o~,lcd Su'rlaiS wrre jus, be
.,.rnin: to evolve from the cold hlooded
r,ri:'rs II Is uuo ~ the oldest living
I.,ulm.,iS
Il = a mirror OF tho past" with =
p-act., Al value q rHcuIt 10 estimate.
\ U,tIe animal. (, looks like n sharI
rnScI rat. :, iS only about six inches
l,-E. Eut is SO" has hciped 20 pre-
~rrvn r. y has small eyes, rounded
ears. \ slender tail and soft brown hair.
,,trroirs:rS - It's name--modern rep
-~N"r.a-iyc % IN ancient group OF pre-
da.ory SoSSnals
Dr. USsxpod made his discovery IN
Seaezunh IN 1912. He secured his
specimens IN the heart OF denSe Tor
cS, or tho mountains there. Access to
the spot was gained by laoortouSly cut
ting narrow trails tnr long distances
49, Nav unIerrrOwth.
Since~cNer DR.. OsGood has made an
INTENSIVE study OF the animal and Il Is
, this which the Field Museum has rtSt
, published IN a book entitled "a Mono
; graphic Scndy OF tho American Narsu-
pial. Cacrolestcs"
This attle animal Is quite unlike any
! other now living In the world" Dr. Os-
! good said. Although It DOES NOT re-
scnbie Closely any species now living
Il Is vrry intimately related 20 AMI
mails which rtourished far back in Geol-
/ ogtc rtrne when the foundations were
, being laid for the evolution OF the
higher animals OF the present day. All
J tho others OF the group 10 which It
belongs became extinct ages ago and
Cacrosestes alone has survived to the
present
We know this because rs bones and
teeth are essentially the same as those
IoS the extinct animals. II the bones
arc The same It Is probable that other
; parts q tso are similar Therefore Caen-
olestee - a prize to the student. for II
, enables him to learn more about tho an
Client fossils than Is shown by their
bones which OF course are the only
parts preserved
The length OF tirne Il has survived
Is almost Incredible Its extinct rea-
tires lived IN the Msocene period and
this according to good authorities was
about three million years ago. During
all this tremendous LAPSE OF days and
nights Il has been able 20 withstand the
corr petition OF nature, 70 hnd food and
proper conditions OF temperature and
10 care for rs young IN ether words.
u live and reproduce :;Sc!t.
IT'S close similarity - tho extinct
forms indicates tina III has been able
to do this without any serious change
In its physical makeup. The secret OF
rs success Is doubtless to be found In
the simplicity Of its requirements. II
Is ono OF the most generaltzed OFF mann
mails row living. IL has never gone TO
extremes. never developed any very
special tastes or pecullarities. 1t feeds
upon insects and isn't particular wheth-
er they are hard or soft smooth or
wool,y.
Three million years ago. IN all prob
ability It's tastes wee the same and
insects were just AS easy 10 md then
as now.
one OF its assets has been Its small
size. II has seen the giants OF the past
come and gp while il went screnely on.
II necr tried any experiments, never
went OFF on tangent, and never took
any chances. by always taking the
easiest and safest way II accomplished
mere existence and nothing else
If all the early mammals had led
the same simple life tho world now
wunld not Dc the sort Of place II Is.
Those that developed along special
It's often found themselves IN fatal
difficulties but some OF them took the
llm-s that have led TO the higher mann
malls OF today. so far "a evolutionary
progress Is concerned therefore. per
hups Csenolcstes miSht az well have
ceased 10 exist millions Of years ago
"Caenolestes belong 20 the great
rnaraupi2ls or pouched mammals. but
, although II lives in America. L is NOT
closely related 70 the oposs2ms. which
a-e the only 0'her American marsu-
: ptals. On the contrary. It's nearest Nv
ing relatives are the Australian oandi-
cootS
This makes Il interesting in connec-
tion with theories as 20 whether or
NOT South America and Australia ever
have been connected BY land bridge.
tTYith marsupials now found both In
kSouth America and in Australia. several
explanation are possible. The original
stock may have spread from South
[ America TO Australia or Vice verso ny
a land bridge no longer existing. Also
II may have originated IN a long since
! vanished southern continent. the 30
! called Atarctica, and from there spread
porthvard both 10 South America and
70 Australia