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The
for
in
a
large
sense.
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| I should premise that I use this term in a large and metaphorical
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. Two canine animals, in a time of dearth, may be truly said to struggle with each other which shall get food and live. But a plant on the edge of a desert is said to struggle for life against the drought, though more properly it should be said to be dependent on the moisture. A plant which annually produces a thousand seeds, of which
→only one on an average
comes to maturity, may be more truly said to struggle with the plants of the same and other kinds which already clothe the ground. The
is dependent on the apple and a few other trees, but can only in a far-fetched sense be said to struggle with these trees, for, if too many of these parasites grow on the same tree, it
and
But several seedling
growing close together on the same branch, may more truly be said to struggle with each other. As the
is disseminated by birds, its existence depends on
and it may metaphorically be said to struggle with other fruit-bearing plants, in
→tempting the
birds to devour and thus disseminate its
In these several senses, which pass into each other, I use for
sake the general term of
for
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|
Geometrical
Ratio
of
Increase.
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| A struggle for existence inevitably follows from the high rate at which all organic beings tend to increase. Every being, which during its natural lifetime produces several eggs or seeds, must suffer destruction during some period of its life, and during some season or occasional
otherwise, on the principle of geometrical increase, its numbers would quickly become so inordinately great that no country could support the product. Hence, as more individuals are produced than can possibly
there must in every case be a struggle for existence, either one individual with another of the same species, or with the individuals of distinct species, or with the physical conditions of life. It is the doctrine of Malthus applied with manifold force to the whole animal and vegetable kingdoms; for in this case there can be no artificial increase of food, and no prudential restraint from marriage. Although some species may be now increasing, more or less rapidly, in numbers, all cannot do so, for the world would not hold them. |
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| There is no exception to the rule that every organic being
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