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ruminants, and rodents in their geographical distribution. We
witnessed numbers of facts of mutual support, especially during the
migrations of birds and ruminants. But even in die Amur and
Usuri regions, where animal life swarms in abundance, facts of real
competition and struggle between higher animals of the same
species came very seldom under our notice, though we eagerly
searched for them. The same impression appears in the works of
most Russian zoologists, and it probably explains why Kessler’s ideas
were so welcomed by the Russian Darwinists, whilst like ideas are
not in vogue amidst the followers of Darwin in Western Europe.”—
(.Nineteenth Century, vol. xxviii., pp. 341-2.)
The same writer warns us that we may sometimes be
deluded by appearances as to the relative amount of
competition within the limits of the same species, because
the conditions in which animals are found in places thickly
populated by men is no guide to their natural mode of
life, when left to themselves.
“ It is worthy of note that there are species living a quite isolated
life in densely-inhabited regions, while the same species, or their
nearest congeners, are gregarious in uninhabited countries. Wolves,
foxes, and several birds of prey may be quoted as instances in
point.”—(Nineteenth Century, vol. xxviii., p. 348.)
“The wolf is said to be unsociable, yet he often hunts in packs ;
he has a cry which brings his brethren to join him in attacking large
and powerful animals ; and full-grown wolves, travelling together, go
in single file, like Indians on the war-path, having been trained to
this very practice when young by their mothers.”—{Blackwood,
vol. cliii., p. 263.)
No doubt there are cases in which it would seem that
the individuals of the same species do compete with one
another. But it should be borne in mind that among
animals as well as among men there are very marked
differences of disposition.
“Nature is variety itself, offering all possible varieties of characters,
from the basest to the highest. Here you have the dominative
swans ; there the extremely sociable kittiwake gulls, among whom
quarrels are rare and short ; the prepossessing Polar guillemots,
which continually caress each other; the egoist she-goose, who