118 THE HUMAN SIDE OF TREES 



troops of robins have been put, not under the table, 

 but feet up in the grass through liberal partakings 

 of the alluring fruit. The delicate bodies of 

 birds are so susceptible to such excesses that certain 

 neighbourhoods at times have been almost depopu- 

 lated of feathery denizens who have imbibed too 

 freely and were destroyed by cats. There are a 

 number of small tropical trees, such as the wild 

 mulberry, that distil on such a large scale that birds, 

 frogs, and regiments of monkeys reel about on the 

 hilarity of its freely-dispensed beverage. In fact, 

 monkeys often fall into the hands of man because 

 of their drink-befuddled condition. 



Some men, in their conceit, really believe that all 

 the products of nature, including trees, were cre- 

 ated solely to satisfy human needs. Nothing could 

 better prove the absurdity of this idea than the fact 

 that there are many appendages manufactured by 

 trees which are not only of no use to man but which 

 are absolutely antagonistic to him. Sharp 

 branches, and thorn-bristling twigs, like those of 

 the hawthorn and the acacia, keep him at arm's 

 length. The giant cactus is armed from top to bot- 

 tom with swords and daggers; the razor tree of 

 South America is covered with terrible razors. 



Tree caves are plant creations which, with some 

 justification, men can believe were created for their 



