The Making of Species 



writes D. Dewar on page 707 of The Albany 

 Review ', vol. ii., "the struggle for existence were 

 of the nature of a race at a well-regulated athletic 

 meeting, where the competitors are given a fair 

 start, where there is no difference in the condi- 

 tions to which the various runners are subjected, 

 then indeed would every variation tell. I would 

 rather liken the struggle for existence to the rush 

 to get out of a crowded theatre, poorly provided 

 with exits, when an alarm of fire is given. The 

 people to escape are not necessarily the strongest 

 of those present. Propinquity to a door may be 

 a more valuable asset than strength." 



Or again, we may take the imaginary case of 

 some antelopes being pursued by wolves. The 

 chase, being prolonged, brings the antelopes to a 

 locality with which they are not familiar. The 

 foremost of the herd, the most swift, and there- 

 fore the individual which should stand the best 

 chance of survival, suddenly finds himself on soft 

 boggy ground, which, owing to the depth to 

 which his feet sink into the soil, seriously 

 impedes his progress. His fellow antelopes, 

 now outdistanced, seeing his predicament, take 

 another course and soon leave him behind, to 

 fall an easy prey to his foes. Here we have a 

 case of the perishing of the most fit as regards 

 the important point of speed. 



Writing of plants, Professor Henslow says, on 

 page 16 of The Heredity of Acquired Characters 



4 8 



