XVII, 

 THE CAUSES OP THE STRUGGLE. 



WE cannot watch this intense struggle in the 

 forest, on the bank of the creek, and beside the 

 great waters without coming to certain conclu- 

 sions. Here before us is strong evidence that 

 every plant is straining after several things light, 

 room to grow, a secure anchorage against wind, 

 wave, and flood, and, above everything, perfection 

 in flower and seed. All have succeeded so far that 

 they still exist, and, more than that, thrive to an 

 extent far beyond what could be expected from a 

 mere fortuitous concurrence of circumstances. They 

 seem to know what they want, and obtain it to a 

 greater or lesser degree, showing considerable lati- 

 tude of choice in means to the same end. When a 

 man does similar things we call him a reasonable 

 being why not say the same of an orchid ? 



It seems to us that all this is explicable on the 

 basis that every species and every family is con- 



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