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 behaK of the 

 family. It may be 



(1) between fellows 

 of the same kind, 



(2) between foes of 

 quite different 

 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 

 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 life of the individual, but 

 success in leaving progeny.' 



Let us take a few illustrations to show the variety of 

 ' struggle '. The competition between antagonistic species 



FiQ. 7. — Spectacled Cobra, Naja tripudians, 

 in the act of striking. The animal 

 grows to a length of 5 feet. {After 

 Fayrer.) 



