THE SOCIETAL ORGANISM 



posed as a result of the sexual method of reproduction. 

 Non-social existence makes it more difficult to find a 

 mate and consequently will in certain environments 

 have an adverse effect upon the survival of the species. 

 Among the mammals, young animals are quite helpless 

 right after birth and the offspring-bearing females are 

 relatively more exposed to external enemies. Develop- 

 ment of some forms of mutual aid will therefore be in 

 the interest of assuring the continuation of the species. 

 The animals of small physical size find association a 

 form of protection against their larger and fiercer 

 enemies. It is indeed among the species lacking natural 

 offensive weapons, that colony formation appears to 

 have developed to the greatest extent (ruminants, 

 swallows, seals, monkeys) . Difficulties of environment 

 are another reason militating in the direction of closer 

 association. 



A noteworthy example of the environmental factor 

 are the penguins. Among these animals colony forma- 

 tion has proceeded further than among any other 

 species of birds. Isolation of these creatures in a diffi- 

 cult environment evidently placed a high premium on 

 cooperation. 



Among the mammals other than man, colony forma- 

 tion has probably gone furthest among the beavers. 

 Here one sees an example of the functional modifica- 

 tion of the surroundings in the direction of increased 

 orderliness. This is the kind of modification that has 



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