In the beginning, the planet upon which we live was (as far as we now know) a

large ball of flaming matter, a tiny cloud of smoke in the endless ocean of

space. Gradually, in the course of millions of years, the surface burned itself

out, and was covered with a thin layer of rocks. Upon these lifeless rocks the

rain descended in endless torrents, wearing out the hard granite and carrying

the dust to the valleys that lay hidden between the high cliffs of the steaming

earth.

 

Finally the hour came when the sun broke through the clouds and saw how this

little planet was covered with a few small puddles which were to develop into

the mighty oceans of the eastern and western hemispheres.

 

Then one day the great wonder happened. What had been dead, gave birth to life.

 

The first living cell floated upon the waters of the sea.

 

For millions of years it drifted aimlessly with the currents. But during all

that time it was developing certain habits that it might survive more easily

upon the inhospitable earth. Some of these cells were happiest in the dark

depths of the lakes and the pools. They took root in the slimy sediments which

had been carried down from the tops of the hills and they became plants. Others

preferred to move about and they grew strange jointed legs, like scorpions and

began to crawl along the bottom of the sea amidst the plants and the pale green

things that looked like jelly-fishes. Still others (covered with scales)

depended upon a swimming motion to go from place to place in their search for