THE STRUGGLE FOR LIFE IN THE FOREST. 343 
the river, but by pushing aside the branches and creepers, so as to get 
behind the veil, orchids may be seen growing luxuriantly in great num- 
bers. Here live those species that delight in plenty of moisture, and 
that can not endure the drier atmosphere which is met with in the “ high 
woods.” This is the home of Zygopetalon rostratum, which is enabled 
to flourish and produce its beautiful white flowers in more gloomy 
recesses than most of the others. It has developed a creeping habit, 
by which it seems to derive benefit, being able by this means to grow 
upward on a branch as the tree extends itself. When this species is 
plentiful it forms quite a pretty decoration to the rugged branches. 
The places where orchids are seen to advantage are not however on 
the banks of the great rivers, but rather on those that are wide enough 
to allow a moderate quantity of lightto penetrate. Not having sufticient 
sun-light to produce rampant vegetation, such places are very congenial 
to a great number of species. High above the water rise the giant moras 
and other immense timber trees, while here and there a great trunk leans 
across the creek, its upper surface decorated with creeping ferns, pep- 
eromias, and the smaller species of orchids, such as Plewrothallis and 
Dichea. In some of the larger forks growimmense masses of Oncidium 
altissimum, often 3 or 4 feet across, their elegant flower stems being 
10 or 12 feet high, hanging or curving gracefully over and loaded with 
hundreds of pretty yellow flowers. Brassias are also very common, 
while here and there Stanhopea eburnea perfumes the air with its large 
ivory-white pendulous blossoms. As the creek twists and turns about 
a new vista is opened at intervals, every short reach, from the different 
degree of light, showing some diversity in its forms of vegetation. Now, 
as the creek narrows, the canoe is paddled through a gloomy cavern 
almost as dark as night, from which the exit appears at a distance like 
the termination of a tunnel. Then comes a wide bay where the sun 
shines in all its brilliancy. Here a mass of vegetation chokes the pas- 
sage, and the cutlass has to be used freely, while a little farther a for- 
est tree has fallen right across the stream, giving perhaps an hour’s 
work with the ax before the canoe can be pushed through, hauled over, 
or drawn under. 
On leaning trunks or projecting branches the catasetums are gener- 
ally plentiful. There are several species, which live under entirely 
different conditions, and taken altogether, this genus is perhaps the 
best example of adaptation to circumstances in the orchid family. On 
the borders of the swamps, where only the eta palm will grow, Catase- 
tum longifolium finds a congenial home among its lower fronds. There 
the orchid hangs downward and waves its long grass-like leaves in the 
wind. Catasetum discolor, as a contrast, has come down to the ground, 
and on the sand reef, where the forest trees find it hard to live, this 
species revels in the poorest soil. Being provided with large pseudo 
bulbs, the Catasetum endures the change of seasons without injury. 
Although its leaves are generally thin and are liable to be dried up 
