434 



ZOOLOGY 



Recapitula- 

 tion of 

 stages of 

 human 

 evolution 





closely man's probable ancestor, each genus and species 

 having developed along special lines since the time when 

 the Hominidse branched off. Man, as we have already 

 noted, acquired an upright posture, going with a return 

 to terrestrial life. His hands developed for the making 

 and using of tools, and the brain to guide the hands. 

 Yet for long ages, in spite of these advantages, man re- 

 mained in a primitive condition, scarcely as prosperous 

 as many of the animals prowling in the vicinity of his 

 caves or shelters. Weak in many respects, his special 

 endowments seemed to hardly more than make up for 

 his failings and prevent him from perishing in the 

 struggle for existence. It was not until many tens of 

 centuries had passed that man assumed his dominant 

 position as lord of the earth. 



10. To recapitulate, the principal stages in the evolu- 

 tion of the human type appear to have been : (i) Proto- 

 zoan stage, (2) ccelenterate stage, (3) wormlike stage, 

 (4) prevertebrate stage, (5) fish stage, (6) amphibian 

 stage, (7) cynodont reptilian stage, (8) marsupial stage, 

 (9) arboreal insectivorous stage, (10) lemurid stage, 

 (11) monkeylike stage, (12) Hominidae, or family in- 

 cluding Homo, which is man. Perhaps some ingenious 

 maker of moving pictures will one of these days project 

 this evolution on the screen, so that in an hour the audi- 

 ence may see the protozoan develop by successive stages, 

 to culminate in a human animal, disguised in the very 

 latest fashions. 



