A TROPIC GARDEN 241 



seam of the great lobes, and serving, also, as 

 drainage outlet for excess of rain. 



A young leaf occasionally came to grief by 

 reaching the surface amid several large ones 

 floating close together. Such a leaf expanded, 

 as usual, but, like a beached boat, was gradually 

 forced high and dry, hardening into a distorted 

 shape and sinking only with the decay of the un- 

 derlying leaves. 



The deep crimson of the outside of the rim 

 was merely a reflection tint, and vanished when 

 the sun shone directly through; but the masses 

 of sharp spines were very real, and quite efficient 

 in repelling boarders. The leaf offered safe 

 haven to any creature that could leap or fly to its 

 surface ; but its life would be short indeed if the 

 casual whim of every baby crocodile or flipper of 

 a young manatee met with no opposition. 



Insects came from water and from air and 

 called the floating leaf home, and, from now on, 

 its surface was one of the most interesting and 

 busy arenas in this tropical landscape. 



In late September I spread my observation 

 chair at the very edge of one of the dark tarns 

 and watched the life on the leaves. Out at the 



