The Narbonne Lycosa: The Family 



In this respect, the prolonged abstinence pre- 

 sents no difficulty. But there remains the ques- 

 tion of energy-producing food, which is indis- 

 pensable, for the little Lycosa moves, when 

 necessary, and very actively at that. To what 

 shall we attribute the heat expended upon ac- 

 tion, when the animal takes absolutely no 

 nourishment? 



An idea suggests itself. We say to our- 

 selves that, without being life, a machine is 

 something more than matter, for man has 

 added a little of his mind to it. Now the iron 

 beast, consuming its ration of coal, is really 

 browsing the ancient foliage of arborescent 

 ferns in which solar energy has accumulated. 



Beasts of flesh and blood act no otherwise. 

 Whether they mutually devour one another 

 or levy tribute on the plant, they invariably 

 quicken themselves with the stimulant of the 

 sun's heat, a heat stored in grass, fruit, seed 

 and those which feed on such. The sun, the 

 soul of the universe, is the supreme dispenser 

 of energy. 



Instead of being served up through the in- 

 termediary of food and passing through the 

 ignominious circuit of gastric chemistry, 

 could not this solar energy penetrate the ani- 



167 



