The Ordway new era., 1908-05-08

hen one speaks OF Martians one
pt TO think only OF those canal
lers. those beings who. u We are
ccept Mr.. Lowell's remarkably
Sustained conclusions. now irri.
with melting polar SHOWS and
ya,e what were once the ocean
OF their drying planet.
b. after all. they cannot live there
y; they can be but u part Of the
tal history Of Mars In just the
way that man In but a part of
batural history OF the earth. They
have been evolved from other
led types; and SO we must neces-
y give our attention to the general
and fora OF this other world
Ire invading In imagination before
an hope to deal at all reasonably
the ruling species.
Is plausible. at any rate. TO sup
that on Mars also. II there Is life.
b chlorophyl will lie at the base
BE- editice; In other words. that
will be vegetable kingdom.
know enough to say now that
vegetable forms with which we
familiar upon earth would not
as people say. on Mars. and we
fven Indicate en- general terms in
manner they would differ. They
not do because. firstly. the
ht OF things at the surface OF
is not half what 1t would be
earth; and. secondly. the gen
atmospheric conditions are very
fent. Whatever else they may
pc Marian herbs and trees must
dapted to these conditions.
e great danger for a plant In n
pr is desiccation, we may expect
pan leaves TO have thick cuticles.
as the cactus has. Moreover,
moisture will come to the Mar
plant. as Mr.. Lowell shows, main
pm below. and not as rain from
F. coming in seasonal floods from
melting OF the snow.cap. the
ai Marian plant will probably be
and have its punches and clus-
oI spiky blue-green leaves upon
ing recdy stalks.
course. there will be an infinite
'y OF species Of plants upon Mars
pom the earth. but these will be
general characteristics OF the
ation.
". this conception OF the Martian
Auoh as mainly OF big. slender,
" lax'textured. fiood-fed plants,
great shocks OF fieshy. needle.
fd or formless leaves above. and
puot with as various n display OF
rs and fruits as our earthly
prepares the ground for the
oeration of the Martian animals.
ryohe nowadays knows how
Y related is the structure of
animal to the food 1t consumes.
eht food. different animals, has
automatic value; and the very
ar nature OF the Martian flora
.'seil sufficient to dispel the idea
meeting beasts with any close
|ss 10 terrestrial species. We
nnd no flies nor sparrows, nor
nor cats on Mars.
mere is plenty of justification
arust were to draw a sort of
.ns or moth fluttering about, or
creatures scampering up and
'he stems of a Marian forest
Many OF them, perhaps, will
snarp proboscides to pierce the
cuticle of the plants.
land here is a curious differ.
.nere are perhaps no fish or
s creatures on Mars at all, In
lug martian winter all the wa. |
eas to drift to the poles and
ere .s as now. or freeze as ice
,oea ,ae watercourses; there are
oa lakes and water.canals in
6.s saa summer. And 30 forms Of
nns. ,,asted to gills, or any meth.
bsau bauer.water breathing. must
|aro n exterminated upon Mars
onrs '.,an air Is thinner and drier |
khers ana y we conclude, therefore,
~ 's still more need than on
=. well-protected. capacious
~,n follows that the Marian
W., run to large chests.
I :, "en, Is one Indication for q
N ~, Marian animal-it mtlst
5orrs.ro. more lung space than
N ~. ponoinx terrestrial form. |
rssss, ss%e reason that viii 4 nseks|
aSn Iazer onA ninGdSr sv3iI|