CHAPTER V 



THE QUEST FOR FOOD 



THE need for self-maintenance leads an animal to 

 feed. To whatever end its energy is directed, loss 

 of substance is incurred by its movement, and even 

 by its rest. When we are lying down the breast 

 still rises and falls, the heart beats, the blood flows, 

 the glands secrete, digest, and store ; the brain is not 

 altogether still, and may plan in sleep works and 

 compositions beyond the power of our waking selves 

 to execute. Even the muscles, quiet as they seem, 

 are doing internal work. By day and night, actively 

 or restfully, the basis of life is used up and needs 

 renewal. How to meet this urgent demand for 

 material we have now to consider. 



The source of animal food : the quest for plants. 

 The kindly fruit of the earth is the source of animal 

 food. Directly or indirectly, animal life is depen- 

 dent on plants, visible or invisible, and so great 

 is the supply that a flesh diet becomes anomalous. 

 The earth is covered with verdure ; the sea is fringed 

 with weeds and teems with minute plants. Soil is 

 the remains of the vesture that waves in the wind 

 and water, held in a meshwork of moulds. Diatoms, 



F 



