The Function of Death ii 



whose lives have been maintained by relative successful 

 ability and conduct until maturity was reached. But further 

 than this, beyond mere maturity in many species of animals 

 (and with compensation in others) the creatures which con- 

 tinue life longer, will naturally produce more young than 

 those short lived of the same race, and so the number of 

 progeny will be nicely proportioned to the degree of fitness. 

 Among the young of the creatures distinguished by nature 

 as fit enough to survive, some will be more fit than others, 

 and will live longer. It is obvious that in the beginning some 

 must be endowed better than others, some are the offspring 

 of parents who only just managed to survive with weak and 

 injured structure; while others are of those whose career 

 was prosperously easy. Therefore equality is not found and 

 is not to be expected between these individuals. Even from 

 birth any family or tribe of seemingly similar creatures 

 carries the greatest variety of destinies. There may be an 

 approximate equality in the opportunity and environment, 

 but even that is not absolute, for some creatures are visibly 

 called upon to meet changing conditions which impose a new 

 test of adaptability, while others are not so tried. 



In this review of well-known facts there is nothing new. 

 It is quoted to be recognized as a factor of great import in 

 the study of consequences of conduct. It shows that the 

 life action of a creature determines and demonstrates first 

 its ability — not its right — to survive; and next the extent 

 to which its offspring (if any) shall go forth as part of the 

 next generation of its kind. It shows that starting with 

 unequal equipment, some individuals are successful and live 

 to the extreme span, and (other things equal) produce many 



