74 love's meinie. 



that every atom* of force in the blow is of 

 service. 



68. Therefore you have to construct your 

 organic weapon, so that this absolutely and 

 perfectly economized force may be distributed 

 as the bird chooses at any moment. That, if 

 it wants to rise, it may be able to strike 

 vertically more than obliquely; — if the order 

 is, go a-head, that it may put the oblique 

 screw on. If it wants to stop in an instant, 

 that it may be able to throw its wings up full 

 to the wind ; if it wants to hover, that it may 

 be able to lay itself quietly on the wind with 

 its wings and tail, or, in calm air, to regulate 

 their vibration and expansion into tranquillity 

 of gliding, or of pausing power. Given the 

 various proportions of weight and wing ; the 

 conditions of possible increase of muscular 

 force and quill-strength in proportion to size ; 

 and the different objects and circumstances of 

 flight, — you have a series of exquisitely com- 

 plex problems, and exquisitely perfect solu- 

 tions, which the life of the youngest among 



* I don't know what word to vise for an infinitesimal 

 degree or divided portion of force : one cannot properly 

 speak of a force being cut into pieces ; but I can think of 

 no other word than atom. 



