93 
It should further be observed that co-operation prevents 
the elimination of the worst. The argument is sound 
which says that, “ as the individual existence of each 
animal depends upon itself, those that die must be the 
weakest, the very young, the aged, and the diseased ; while 
those that prolong their existence can only be the most 
perfect in health and vigour.” But by the same reasoning, 
if the individual does not live unto himself, the opposite 
result may be anticipated, and does actually take place. 
“ Life in societies enables the feeblest insects, the feeblest birds, 
and the feeblest mammals to resist, or to protect themselves from, the 
most terrible birds and beasts of prey; it permits longevity; it 
enables the species to rear its progeny with the least waste of energy, 
and to maintain its numbers albeit a very slow birth-rate ; it enables 
the gregarious animals to migrate in search of new abodes. . . . 
Those species which willingly or unwillingly abandon it are doomed 
to decay.”—(Kropotkin, ft. 711.) 
The very young are not left to perish by their natural 
protectors, as the following instances will show:— 
“ In Abyssinia, Brehnr encountered a great troop of baboons, who 
were crossing a valley. Some had already ascended the opposite 
mountain, and some were still in the valley. The latter were 
attacked by the dogs, but the old males immediately hurried down 
from the rocks, and with mouths widely opened, roared so fearfully 
that the dogs quickly drew back. They were again encouraged to 
the attack ; but by this time all the baboons had reascendecl the 
heights, excepting a young one, about six months old, who, loudly 
calling for aid, climbed on a block of rock and was surrounded. 
Now one of the largest males, a true hero, came down again from 
the mountain, slowly went to the young one, coaxed him, and 
triumphantly led him away—the dogs being too much astonished 
to mak^ an attack.”—(Darwin. Descent of Man. ft. 101.) 
“ The gamekeeper here found a hawk’s nest this year, with five 
young ones on it. He took four and killed them, but left one with 
its wings clipped as a decoy to destroy the old ones by. They were 
both shot next day in the act of feeding the young one, and the 
keeper thought it was done with. The next day he came again 
and found two other charitable hawks, who had come with an 
adopted feeling to succour the orphan. These two he killed, and