154. LIVING PLANTS 



harmonious magnificence of color, as if by 

 magic. 



The splendor of the colored markings of the 

 plants and animals of the tropics is a well 

 worn theme with amateurs, but it does not 

 stand comparison with the beauty of the au- 

 tumnal tintsof foliage of the north temperate 

 zone, either in variety or richness of tone. 

 Furthermore it may be said that the display 

 offered by the forests east, west and south of 

 the Great Lakes in North America is not du- 

 plicated on any part of the globe. The vege- 

 tation of the valleys and mountain slopes of 

 the basins of the Rhine and Danube gives an 

 exhibit which is only less beautiful because of 

 the smaller number of species, and which is 

 less remarked because of its shorter duration. 



On some portions of the earth's surface 

 within the tropics, where no great or sharply 

 defined alterations in seasons occur, vegeta- 

 tion pursues a fairly even course all the year 

 round . Each leaf retains its place on the stem 

 until the full limit of its usefulness or endur- 

 ance has been reached, and then withered and 

 woody it falls to the ground in company with 

 such of its fellows as may have reached a 

 similar stage at the same time. Of the myr- 

 iads of leaves borne by any tree, not so many 

 are cast at one time, as to bare the branches 

 or make any apparent diminution of their 



