A Story Outline of Evolution 



flying animal was the wide-wlnged flying crocodile and that 

 these were insect eaters. In principle, the modern aeroplane 

 is patterned after the flying crocodile whose muscular power 

 was furnished by the insects it ate and the source of the power 

 that propels and lubricates the parts of the mechanical ma- 

 chine is the same as the flying crocodile used millions of 

 years ago. Every plant that has been swayed by the wind 

 or ocean waves, every animal that has squirmed, wriggled, 

 swam, crawled, walked or flown has played its part in the 

 advancement of our civilization. All things are a part of 

 the Creative Plan. It was so in the beginning, is now and 

 ever will be. It is given to man to search out the relation- 

 ship of every part and apply it to the entire Plan. In no 

 other way can this be done except through the processes of 

 Evolution. We have seen that out of all the hundreds of 

 forms of animal life that were developed during the "Age 

 of Reptiles," only four of these orders still survive. One of 

 these orders is represented by the snake family. Since the 

 snake developed form and habits that have made it possible 

 for it to survive throughout the ages while many of its kin- 

 dred have passed from existence, it is well to learn some- 

 thing of its habits and history. The snake's ancestors were 

 forelegged animals of the lizard type. Somewhere down 

 the tree of life, there came a condition that caused it to 

 change its habits and its form. It may have been a change 

 in its food supply or it may have been brought about by some 

 enemy that preyed upon this particular family, but it gained 

 an advantage by casting off its legs and becoming a wriggler. 

 The snake, more than any other animate creature possesses 

 properties of mystery. Without feet or claws, fins, legs or 



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