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The Seventh Lesson: Cosmic Evolution.819
appreciate the convenience of parts and organs. It is interesting to note,
in this connection, that while the ordinary cells of the higher animal body
resemble the monera in many ways, still the white corpuscles in the blood
of man and the animals bear a startling resemblance to the amoebae so far
as regards size, general structure, and movements, and are in fact known
to Science as “amoeboids.” The white corpuscles change their shape, take
in food in an intelligent manner, and live a comparatively independent life,
their movements showing independent “thought” and “will.”
Some of the amoebae (the diatoms, for instance) secrete solid matter
from the water, and build therefrom shells or houses, which serve to protect
them from their enemies. These shells are full of tiny holes, through which
the pseudopods are extended in their search for food, and for purposes
of movement. Some of these shells are composed of secreted lime, and
others of a flinty substance, the “selection” of these substances from the
ether mineral particles in the water, evidencing a degree of “thought,” and
mind, even in these lowly creatures. The skeletons of these tiny creatures
form vast deposits of chalk and similar substances.
Next higher in the scale are the Infusoria. These creatures differ from the
amoebae inasmuch as instead of pseudopods, they have developed tiny
vibrating filaments, or thread-like appendages, which are used for drawing
in their prey and for moving about. These filaments are permanent, and
are not temporary like the pseudopods of the monera or amoebae—they
are the first signs of permanent hands and feet. These creatures have also
discovered the possibilities of organs and parts, to a still greater degree
than have their cousins the amoebae, and have evolved something like a
mouth-opening (very rudimentary) and also a short gullet through which
they pass their food and oxygen—they have developed the first signs of a
throat, wind-pipe and food-passage.
Next come the family of Sponges, the soft skeletons of which form the
useful article of everyday use. There are many forms who weave a home of
far more delicacy and beauty than their more familiar and homely brothers.