THE ISSUES OF LIFE 307 



the family (the parent bird wearing itself to a skeleton), 

 with the self-forgetfulness shown in guarding, cleaning, and 

 educating the young. But have we sufficiently weighed the 

 general fact that although it is the birds' meat and drink 

 to do all this, it is not self-preser^^ation at any rate that 

 results ? Many adult insects spend by far the greater part 

 of their time and energy in securing the safety of their eggs 

 and the nourishment of the young. It is hardly an exag- 

 geration to say with Cresson : ^' Everything for the species ; 

 everything by the individual ; nothing for the individual." 



What difficulties often lie in the way of the fertilisation 

 of the egg-cell ! How many tens of thousands of years, how 

 many variations, how much vital energy, how much searching 

 elimination have gone to the establishment of the adapta- 

 tions which secure this end, — the fragrance, the flags of 

 colour, and the strategically placed nectaries in flowering 

 plants, the imperious desires, the intricate attractions, and 

 the subtle psychical embroidery in the case of animals. 

 There are parallel adaptations of structure and habit, which 

 secure the welfare of the young. 



The fact which must be included in our conception of 

 organic life is the amount of energy that is expended towards 

 the maintenance of the species rather than towards self-pres- 

 ervation and self-gratification. Animals have become or- 

 ganically interested in working for the species, and even 

 though they know it not, their individuality completes itself 

 in the larger life of their race. What it seems to mean, 

 according to current evolution-theory, is that variations (prob- 

 ably altogether germinal to begin with) in directions which 

 made for the welfare of offspring, family, society, or species, 

 have been established in the course of selection no less 

 securely than those which made for self-preservation. Meta- 



