Chapter 13 continues Dillard's musing on the "dog eat dog" world especially as it relates to parasites. How does Dillard view the parasitic relationship?

In a sense, animals and insects invaded by parasites are a sacrifice to sustaining the life of the parasite. Dillard thinks of a number of times she has noticed, or heard stories about, animals in the wild dying of parasite attacks. It seems to be the way of things, thinks Dillard.