THE DRAMA OF LIFE 



same kin or even family, but by no means restricted to this. 



It is important to realize the variety of ' struggle '- 

 from a life and death competition around the platter of 

 subsistence to a persistent and peaceful endeavour after 

 well-being. It may be for foothold, for food, for mates, 

 or on behalf of the 

 family. It may be 



(1) between fellows 

 of the same kind, 



(2) between foes of 

 quite d i ff e r e n t 

 kinds, or (3) be- 

 tween organisms 

 and their physical 

 surroundings, i.e. 

 between Life and 

 Fate. In insisting 

 on this multiplicity 

 of ' struggle ', or 

 reaction against 

 limitations and 



FIG. 7. Spectacled Cobra, Naja tripudians, 

 in the act of striking. The animal 

 grows to a length of 5 feet. (After 

 Fayrer.) 



difficulties, we are 

 keeping close to 

 Darwin's own meaning, for he wrote : 



' I should premise that I use this term [' struggle for 

 existence '] in a large and metaphorical sense, including 

 dependence of one being on another, and including (which 

 is more important) not only the lif e of the individual, but 

 success in leaving progeny. 5 



Let us take a few illustrations to show the variety of 

 ' struggle '. The competition between antagonistic species 



