36 
DARWINISM 
CHAP. 
mingled, so that in every extensive forest we have a consider¬ 
able variety, as may be seen in the few remnants of our 
primitive woods in some parts of Epping Forest and the 
New Forest. 
Among animals the same law prevails, though, owing to 
their constant movements and power of concealment, it is not 
so readily observed. As illustrations we may refer to the 
wolf, ranging over Europe and Northern Asia, while the jackal 
inhabits Southern Asia and Northern Africa; the tree- 
porcupines, of which there are two closely allied species, one 
inhabiting the eastern, the other the western half of North 
America; the common hare (Lepus timidus) in Central and 
Southern Europe, while all Northern Europe is inhabited by 
the variable hare (Lepus variabilis); the common jay (Garrulus 
glandarius) inhabiting all Europe, while another species 
(Garrulus Brandti) is found all across Asia from the Urals to 
Japan; and many species of birds in the Eastern United 
States are replaced by closely allied species in the west. Of 
course there are also numbers of closely related species in the 
same country, but it will almost always be found that they 
frequent different stations and have somewhat different habits, 
and so do not come into direct competition with each other ; 
just as closely allied plants may inhabit the same districts, 
when one prefers meadows the other woods, one a chalky 
soil the other sand, one a damp situation the other a dry one. 
With plants, fixed as they are to the earth, we easily note 
these peculiarities of station ; but with wild animals, which we 
see oidy on rare occasions, it requires close and long-continued 
observation to detect the peculiarities in their mode of life 
which may prevent all direct competition between closely 
allied species dwelling in the same area. 
The Ethical Aspect of the Struggle for Existence. 
Our exposition of the phenomena presented by the struggle 
for existence may be fitly concluded by a few remarks on its 
ethical aspect. Now that the war of nature is better known, 
it has been dwelt upon by many writers as presenting so vast 
an amount of cruelty and pain as to be revolting to our 
instincts of humanity, while it has proved a stumbling-block 
in the way of those who Avould fain believe in an all-wise and 
