ii4 HABITUDES AND ATTITUDES 



between parallel types of the animal kingdom. 

 The cerebration of the ant is comparable, in 

 several of its manifestations, with that of the 

 higher mammals, but its evolution is distinct 

 and its mechanism different. The comparison 

 between the two forms is most profitable in the 

 abstract ; but it points away from homology, not 

 towards it. Perhaps either direction leads round 

 in a vicious circle to the same goal, namely, the 

 point from which we started ; but we may gather 

 much by the way if we do not stray too far from 

 the track and lose ourselves in a jungle of facts 

 and speculations. 



National life is chiefly controlled by the desire 

 to capture markets. Animal life is chiefly con- 

 cerned with the occupation of feeding grounds. 

 In general, any given feeding area can support 

 a very mixed population, and the association of 

 forms which batten upon any particular source 

 of supply constitutes what has been termed the 

 bioccenosis [Dahl] of that centre. This com- 

 munity of interests is a phase of symbiosis or 

 commensalism, not based upon mutual advantage 

 nor even upon mutual toleration, in the first 

 instance, but upon strict independence and self- 

 help. 



All the species which take part in such associa- 

 tions may be said to converge towards a common 

 centre of sustenance, and it is generally, though 

 by no means invariably noted that the assemblage 



