96 THE OPEN BOOK OF NATURE 
rocks we find fossils of Foraminifera, Radiolarians, 
Sponges, Graptolites, Corals, Starfish, Sea-urchins, 
Sea-lilies, Worms, Trilobites, and Molluscs. Then, 
a little higher in the scale, we discover Fish, to be 
followed, higher still, by Amphibians. The Reptiles 
are even more recent, not appearing till Permian 
times. Birds are found for the first time in Jurassic 
rocks, although they may be a little older. Then, 
lastly, we have the Mammals with their highest 
representative, Man, as the King and crown of 
creation. The most highly developed creatures 
were the last to appear ; creation has been a gradual 
unfolding and a wonderful growth—frst the seed, 
then ‘‘ the blade, the ear, and the full corn in the 
ear.” I should like you to realize that Nature has 
always worked from the lowest to the highest, and 
still works on the same plan. One of the noblest 
uses of the study of fossils has been to make us 
understand the steps of creation, and know some- 
thing about the ever-unfolding work of the Almighty. 
The earth’s strata are like the leaves of a book on 
which the story of Creation is impressed. The first 
leaves are a veritable “ Genesis ’—book of begin- 
nings—and the last leaves tell of the greatest results 
of Nature’s working. But the story is not yet 
complete ; it is always being written. New leaves 
are even now being added from which the geologists 
of ages hence will be able to learn more of the story 
from records now being preserved.) ~ *" 
Fossil remains of plants tell the same story as 
those of animals. You can find early plant forms 
in the older rocks and higher plant-life*recorded ‘in 
recent strata. The fossil records of plant-life are 
