The Story of Evolution

As we saw, one of the early requirements to be fostered by natural selection in the Archaean struggle for life was a thick skin, and the thick skin had to be porous to let the animal shoot out its viscid substance in rays and earn its living. This stage above the Amoeba is beautifully illustrated in the sun-animalcules (Heliozoa). Now the lowest types of Radiolaria are of this character. They have no shell or framework at all. The next stage is for the little animal to develop fine irregular threads of flint in its skin, a much better security against the animal-eater. – Provided, as always, to the Board of Education of the State of Kansas (gratis).