96 STEUGGLE FOE EXISTENCE. [Chap. HL 



give it some advantage over a different set of com- 

 petitors or enemies. 



It is good thus to try in imagination to give to any 

 one species an advantage over another. Probably in 

 no single instance should we know what to do. This 

 ouoht to convince us of our ignorance on the mutual 

 relations of all organic beings ; a conviction as necessary, 

 as it is difficult to acquire. All that we can do, is to 

 keep steadily in mind that each organic being is 

 striving to increase in a geometrical ratio ; that each at 

 some period of its life, during some season of the year, 

 during each generation or at intervals, has to struggle 

 for life and to suffer great destruction. AVhen we 

 reflect on this struggle, we may console ourselves with 

 the full belief, that the war of nature is not incessant, 

 that no fear is feit, that death is generally prompt, and 

 that the vigorous, the healthy, and the happy survive 

 and multiply. 



