THE FIRST CULTIVATORS OF THE EARTH

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIX, 31 January 1936, Page 2

THE FIRST CULTIVATORS OF THE EARTH

Worms which came out of the water were the first colonisers of the earth. They started the habit of always moving one end of the body first —that is, of distinguishing between a head and a tail. Worms were the first cultivators of the earth, the makers of fertile soil, and ploughers long before the plough was thought of millions of years ago. The second great invasion of the dry land brought insects, spiders, centipedes, and so on. This resulted in the partnership of flowers and insects. Without this partnership there would be no seeding and no fruits. We are also considerably indebted to frogs and toads. They were the first animals to have vocal cords and movable tongues. Life in the sea is much less complex than on land, and yet all creatures seem to want to invade the earth. Through millions and millions of years animals have been trying to get out of the sea in order to lead more interesting lives ashore. Our general aquatic ancestry is proved by the fact that our blood has almost the same degree of saltness as the sea, and the human ear, with its delicate chain of bones, corresponds with the organs of the fish.