ANIMAL COMMUNITIES AND SOCIAL LIFE 



ence. The termite individual is one of the most defense- 

 less, and, for those animals that prey on insects, one of 

 the most toothsome luxuries to be found in the insect 

 world. But the termite is one of the most abundant and 

 widespread and successfully living insect kinds in all the 

 tropics. Where ants are not, few insects are. The honey- 

 bee is a popular type of a successful life. The artificial 

 protection afforded the honey-bee by man may aid in its 

 struggle for existence, but it gains this protection because 

 of certain features of its communal life, and in Nature the 

 honey-bee takes care of itself well. The Little Bee People 

 of Kipling's Jungle Book, who live in great communities in 

 the rocks of Indian hills, can put to rout the largest and 

 fiercest of the jungle animals. Co-operation and mutual 

 aid are among the most important factors which help in 

 the struggle for existence. Its great advantages are, how- 

 ever, in some degree balanced by the fact that mutual help 

 brings mutual dependence. The community or society can 

 accomplish greater things than the solitary individuals, but 

 co-operation limits freedom, and often sacrifices the indi- 

 vidual to the whole. 



