242 THE SOCIAL LIFE OF ANIMALS 



species, such as occur in human warfare, can hardly 

 be found among non-human animals. 



These techniques by which we can successfully 

 combat our enemies, the insects, and the viruses they 

 transport are too expensive for the world today. 

 They are too expensive because even the peaceful 

 nations are using so much of their resources for buy- 

 ing and building armament on an unprecedented 

 scale, apparently to make one more experimental test 

 of the fact that war is biologically indefensible. 



In our struggles with our physical environment, 

 with disease germs and insects, we have ample op- 

 portunity for the struggle for existence, and stimu- 

 lus enough to apply to the limit the principle of 

 co-operation. 



Unconsciously or consciously, the innate urge to- 

 ward co-operation appears even under circumstances 

 where it would seem least likely to be fostered. 



Even in the most seriously war-torn countries, as 

 in Spain today, when one is withdrawn from the ac- 

 tual scene of battle one finds the common people en- 

 gaged as best they can in their normal activities of 

 providing food, clothing and shelter for themselves 

 and their families, with the ineradicable drive to- 

 ward constructive co-operation that we have found 

 evident throughout the animal kingdom. Such co- 

 operative activity will reach through a family, from 



