File:The American Museum journal (c1900-(1918)) (17538274474).jpg

Title: The American Museum journal
Identifier: americanmuseumjo18amer (find matches)
Year: c1900-(1918) (c190s)
Authors: American Museum of Natural History
Subjects: Natural history
Publisher: New York : American Museum of Natural History
Contributing Library: American Museum of Natural History Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE ADAPTATIONS The carnivorous "tyrant" dinosaur ( Ti/raiinosaurus) (it towers about 18 feet from the ground) is approaching a group of horned herl)ivorous dinosaurs (Ceratopsia). I'he Orif/in and Evolution of Life discusses the theory of the beginning of life as a recombination of energies and elements preexisting in the cosmos. It puts forth the idea that there is an energy control of life, that energy is the cause of evolution, that some combination of energy always precedes and molds form in the living world. We recognize that invisible energy lies back of the phenomena of the electric train and of wireless telegraphy ; it is possible that the energy transmitted from the micro- scopic chromatin, acting in an infinitely com))lex and. to us, mysterious way. can control the develop- ment of a giant tree or a dinosaur. The author emphasizes that it is the function of life to "capture" energy wherever it can be found and to utilize it. Earliest forms of bacterial life, feeding directly on inorganic matter, used heat energy from the sun; green plants capture light and heat energy (they can make starch only in sunshine), storing these within themselves in passive form (in starches, oils, sugars, etc.) which the animal retrans- forms into active energy when the plants are used for food. The giant dinosaurs were the climax in capture, storage, and release of energy. The evolution of the defensive types proceeded step by step with that of the offensive types, producing an example of counteracting evolution similar to that in Xorth American wolves and bison or deer. This approach by Osborn to life and evolution through a study of energies primarily and of matter and form secondarily sets a direction for future researches by the many — instead of by the few as in the past

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