VI. 



Death in the Forest. 



THE tropical forest is the scene of an intense struggle for life. 

 Undisturbed by man, the trees, climbers, and epiphytes are 

 always fighting for their share of sunlight. The weakest, of course, 

 succumb, making a little more room for the others ; and the close 

 observer is painfully impressed by signs of disease and death on 

 every hand. What is most striking is the fact that a majority of the 

 deaths are the result of smothering, blood-sucking, and strangling 

 by other plants. Like men in great cities, each plant is an individual 

 trying his best for himself, no matter what becomes of the others. 

 But there is no one to help the weak or nurse the sick. They must 

 be able to cope with their neighbours or must die. Once weakened, 

 their places are usurped by others, and recovery is impossible. 



The loss is greatest in early life. Animals and savages take 

 care of their children in their weakest stage, but not so the forest 

 giant. His seeds are scattered, provided with contrivances to spread 

 them in every direction by means of wind, water, or animals, but 

 beyond this they receive neither care nor attention. Thousands of 

 seeds are produced annually, but rarely does one survive and come 

 to maturity. They germinate in every direction, some growing 

 upwards for a few feet, only to give up the struggle when they find 

 no light is obtainable. In the dull arcades of the forest perpetual 

 twilight reigns, and the seedlings can get neither strength nor colour. 

 They droop and wither, some almost immediately, others in a few 

 months, while hundreds fail after gaining a fair position. They 

 cannot pierce the dense canopy above, and are virtually smothered 

 to death. 



Between the tree trunks the ground is littered with fallen leaves, 

 petals, and fruits, crumbling down to that rich brown mould so 

 characteristic of the forest. Except a few voyrias or a saprophytic 

 orchid, not a single herbaceous plant is to be found. Like the tree- 

 seedlings, they cannot exist without sunlight. As in the case of the 

 cave-fish, however, the voyria' has managed to live under conditions 

 decidedly unfavourable to others, and even to itself, as may be seen 



1 A small leafless plant, of the natural order Gentianeac, growing on rotting wood 

 and leaves in the forests of tropical Africa and America. 



