THE CAUSES OF THE STRUGGLE. 295 



tinuous as long as the line exists. Although, 

 therefore, from one point of view, every living 

 thing is an individual, in the wide sense it is only 

 a link in the chain, and must be considered as part 

 of one great whole, extending backwards to that 

 misty period when life began on the earth. 



We have seen that the Guiana forest is made up 

 of hundreds of species instead of the half-a-dozen 

 or so which crowd the woods of temperate climates. 

 Not only is there great variety in this respect, but 

 it may be safely affirmed that here also individuality 

 attains its highest development. It is hardly neces- 

 sary to state that every plant is an individual in 

 the ordinary sense of the term, and as such differs 

 more or less from every other. 



In great cities the struggle for existence developes 

 more individuality than in villages, where there is a 

 tendency to perpetuate old manners and customs. 

 A similar thing happens in the forest with a throng 

 much denser than is possible in any city. We can 

 only compare the trees to a great mob gathered in 

 one place, and struggling with each other to gain 

 the best points for observation. In such a crowd, 

 although there is a certain amount of unison as far 

 as the striving to attain the same object is con- 

 cerned, nevertheless selfishness reigns supreme, 

 and the weakest get trodden under foot. So is 



