THE STRUGGLE FOR LIFE IN THE FOREST. 347 
the tree tops, itrevels in the glare, only partially screening itself beside 
the bushes. 
There is a certain amount of uniformity in the “ high woods,” not- 
withstanding that two trees of the same species are hardly ever seen 
together. The conditions being the same, and there being no room for 
developing many special peculiarities, the result to an ordinary trav- 
eller is rather monotonous. The sand reefs, on the contrary, show a 
fertility of invention. Here, some kinds of plants entirely alter their 
character with their habitat. <A fern (Schizwa), instead of showing 
the delicacy of form and texture common to the order, has changed 
itself into a wiry grass-like creature, without beauty or comeliness. 
Lichens and mosses take advantage of the slight screen of the clumps 
of bushes, and grow on the sand as well as onthe branches. Climbers 
run along the sand, while the demon clusias flourish without strangling 
their neighbors. Plants whose relatives are forest giants dwindle here 
to little dwarf shrubs of a few inches high, with small leaves densely 
covered with hair or down to collect the dew which falls so plenteously 
in the dry seasons. 
Much more could be said on the various aspects of this great struggle. 
Every species, and even every individual, is worthy of attention. It 
would almost seem as if thousands of species would fall and become 
extinct, and that such has been the case there can be no doubt. Never- 
theless, there are so many provisions against this, that on the other 
hand, we see that such a thing is comparatively rare. Opposed to the 
thousand chances against the individual, nature has provided a thou- 
sand and one in its favor. A tree with a multitude of flowers will pro- 
duce one or two seeds to each, while an orchid, with only a few, often 
numbers its seeds by tens of thousands. Some trees have fruits which 
are food for beasts, birds, and fishes, but with all this there will always 
be a few left to produce others of the same species. 
