  We describe the evolution of galaxies in a chemically consistent way
accounting for the increasing initial metallicity of successive generations of
stars. The enrichment of various types of model galaxies is compared with
Damped Ly$\alpha$ (= DLA) abundances over the redshift range from ${\rm z \sim
0}$ through ${\rm z > 4.4}$. We discuss properties and composition of the
galaxy population giving rise to DLA absorption. Beyond evolution of individual
galaxies a change is found in the composition of DLA galaxy samples from high
to low redshift. Spectrophotometric properties are predicted for optical
identifications of DLA galaxies.
