Democratic Sentinel, Volume 22, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 January 1898 — Once Whales Had Legs. [ARTICLE]

Once Whales Had Legs.

The more remote ancestors of whale* undoubtedly had legs. The sperm whale possesses a rudimentary thighbone, while the Greenland whale has a rudimentary thigh-bone and tibia. There seems to be no question that the progenitors of modern whales were land animals, but their descendants took to the sea and ceased to require legs. These remarks apply to hind legs: the fore legs of whales are rdpreMnted by their flippers. The ancestors of all marine mammals were land animals. The intermediate condition may be observed in the seals, which Uve on land to some extent. The porpoise Is legless, but has rudimentary hip bones. The ancestors of modem snakes had Isas and walked.