ADAPTABILITY OF LIFE 



245 



114. Adaptability of Life. 



There is hardly a place on the 

 earth's surfade not adapted to 

 some form of life. Even upon 



A RATTLESNAKE COILED BEADY TO 



SPRING. 



The color of these reptiles makes them 

 hardly distinguishable from the sur- 

 rounding desert. 



CACTI. 



These are adapted to desert 



life because they have no 



leaves from which water 



can evaporate. 



the ice-bound interior of Greenland a microscopical plant 

 and a tiny worm have found a home. The dry desert 



regions have a few 

 plants with small leaves 

 or, like the cactus, with 

 no true leaves. This 

 prevents the evapora- 

 tion of the water from 

 their surfaces and so 

 protects them from 

 drought. To protect 

 them from animals, 

 many of these plants 

 are armed with thorns. 

 Another example of 

 adaptability is the fact 

 that the small animals 

 of the desert are gen- 



A HERD OF REINDEER. 



This animal is of invaluable service to 



man in polar regions. 



