Kay Robinson’s Theory 
grazing animals. But how can the origin of the 
colour or other characteristic be explained ? 
We asked Mr Kay Robinson how he would 
account for the great success in the struggle for 
existence of some species of grasses on which 
herbivorous animals feed so largely. He replied, 
in the issue of The Country-Side, dated April 3, 
1909 :— 
“The grass has a manner of growth which 
defies the grazing animal. Its long, thin leaves 
are constantly pushing upwards from the ground, 
and, if they are grazed down one day, they will 
have pushed up again the next. Moreover, when 
the outside blade of grass has exhausted its power 
of growing, there is another blade inside it with 
many inches still to grow, and another inside that 
which has scarcely begun to grow, and yet another 
further in which has not yet seen daylight; and 
soon. Ina state of nature grazing animals are 
nowhere so numerous on any given patch of 
ground from day to day as to keep down the 
grass. If they were, carnivorous animals would 
stay there to eat the grazing animals, and grow 
fat and multiply. Thus the grazing herds are 
scattered and wandering, followed wherever they 
go by the beasts of prey; and in their absence 
the grass pushes ahead, so that when the grazing 
animals return its clump is larger and its roots 
are stronger, and it is better able to survive 
attack than before. 
S 273 
