of them.

Most of the animals are different from any we have upon the earth, but
some bear a general resemblance to ours of the same species, though they
are all of larger size, and differ considerably in details. Like the
people, they have developed through the long ages, and have reached a
higher point than our animals, and a few have even developed the power
of speech.

This may sound exaggerated--but just think! Many of our birds have been
taught to speak the human language, and a few have even acquired this
power by imitativeness. Who that has kept dogs, cats, monkeys, and
horses has not observed the desperate efforts of some of them to make
themselves understood. All are not alike, but we often come across an
animal which seems to understand almost everything we say, but none has
yet developed the power of making an intelligible communication to us,
although some try hard to do so. It does not seem beyond the bounds of
possibility that a few thousand years hence some animals, especially the
monkey species, may be able to speak a little.

The Martians do not use any of their animals as beasts of burden, and it
would be contrary to all their ideas to do so. On Mars nearly all heavy
labour is performed by means of electrical machines, thus both the
people and the animals are spared much heavy work.

Our animals are often greatly overloaded, but we have a salutary law to
protect them from this, as well as from other forms of cruelty; and the
persons responsible for the ill-treatment may be punished.

Human beings, however, may be overloaded and, in many cases, overworked
with impunity, for there is no law to protect the unorganised workers.
Is there not something wrong about this?

It may be argued that whilst animals cannot protect themselves human
beings can; but, alas, only too often the force of circumstances compels
workers to endure anything so long as they can earn a little to keep
body and soul together.

* * * * *

Flowers seem to be very plentiful here, and grow very tall and large.
Many varieties bear a strong resemblance to our variegated lilies, the
flowers being brilliantly tinted, and often measuring twelve to fifteen
inches across. But, as upon the earth, flowers are found in all colours
and sizes, and in infinite variety.

Trees also grow very tall, many varieties resembling our palms,
especially in and near the tropics, where there are also many varieties
of