24 ENVIRONMENT OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS 



reach that locality. If, for example, temperate forms of life were 

 introduced by man into the tropics, they would either die or they 

 would gradually change so as to become fitted to live in their new 

 environment. Sheep with long wpol fitted to live in England, 

 when removed to Cuba, where conditions of greater heat exist, 



Plant life in a moist tropical forest. Notice the air plants to the left and the 

 resurrection ferns on the tree trunk. 



soon died because they were not fitted or adapted to live in their 

 changed environment. 



Adaptations. Plants and animals are not only fitted to live 

 under certain conditions, but each part of the body may be fitted to 

 do certain work. I notice that as I write these words the fingers 

 of my right hand grasp the pen firmly and the hand and arm exe- 

 cute some very complicated movements. This they are able to 

 do because of the free movement given through the arrangement 

 of the delicate bones of the wrist and fingers, their attachment 

 to the bones of the arm, a wonderful complex of muscles which 

 move the bones, and a directing nervous system which plans 

 the work. Because of the peculiar fitness in the structure of the 



