THE SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST 379 



plant struggling to get up through the thick scrub 

 and weeds. In another year nearly all were gone, 

 swept away by high tides, devoured by insects, 

 killed by disease, or choked out by other vegetation. 

 The same is true in the hammock where thousands 

 of plants of the Ocoteas, Eugenias, papaws or live 

 oaks come up in a single season. They all run 

 the gantlet and at best only a few half starved 

 plants survive for even a few years. By and by 

 some old tree which has occupied a large space dies 

 and falls, leaving an open spot, and a single seed- 

 ling which is a little stronger or more advanta- 

 geously situated than the rest soon occupies the 

 vacant area and keeps down all the others. Thus 

 nature wastes an almost uncalculable amount of 

 energy. , 



Is it any wonder then that with the fierce com- 

 petition for space, light, and opportunity in the 

 forests the weaker plants are driven out into the 

 swamps, into the water, or onto the trees to live 

 as epiphytes; anywhere that they can find room 

 and make out an existence? Is it strange that 

 they seem to resort to all kinds of schemes which 

 will give their seeds a chance to grow and re- 

 produce their species? The epiphytes have used 



