The Fusion of Individuals 107 



Relation to growth. Cannibalism is a method by 

 which large individuals arise, by which substance is 

 stuffed into the body at a much higher rate than or- 

 dinary feeding could accomplish. Yet, for the most 

 part, the body waits its usual time to age, before it 

 undergoes fission. But since cannibals have hitherto 

 not been observed among well-fed individuals, it is 

 evident that the benefit of ordinary feeding is lost 

 whenever the conditions for cannibalism prevail. It 

 is not clear whether body substance built up from this 

 incomparably appropriate kind of food is incorporated 

 faster, or with less expenditure of "age", than it is 

 during the increase of size under usual conditions of 

 growth. 



