THE STRUGGLE FOR EXISTENCE 17 



existence as would make it impossible for an acute 

 observer of the phenomena of Nature to say that 

 the causes which check the natural increase of 

 carnivorous animals are very obscure ? These causes 

 would be thrust upon his observation, so that, in almost 

 every single instance, he would perceive the checks 

 which prevent the carnivora from increasing unduly. 

 I ask you also to consider another aspect of the 

 situation. The young of Nature's wild tribes in 

 their native habitats are never observed to be more 

 numerous in proportion to the adults than are young 

 children to the human adults in a community. You 

 admit that in the case of the carnivora the number of 

 offspring produced is ten times greater than the 

 number of those that can survive, and that all 

 perish before procreating, except so many as are 

 required to take the place of their parents in the 

 next generation. Ought not therefore the number 

 of young tigers, in relation to adults, to be always 

 several times more numerous than they ever are 

 observed to be ? In fact, the young never appear 

 upon the stage of life to be more numerous than 

 would suffice to take the place of the parents at their 

 death. In a word, we behold only survivors vigorous, 

 healthy, and happy survivors. But where is the 

 struggle for existence ? Where are the dying and the 

 dead ? Above all, where are the carnivorous swarms 

 that should be rending each other in pieces, or falling 

 faint in the grip of famine ? " 



" If I follow your argument," said my friend, " this is 



