120 IN THE GUIANA FOREST. 



it has been said has at least six insects which feed 

 upon it ; our cultivated fruit trees and vegetables 

 sometimes have a score. The most acrid and 

 poisonous secretions may deter some, but there 

 will be always one or two that can eat them with 

 impunity. If we say that the plant has secreted 

 the poison to make its leaves distasteful or injuri- 

 ous to its enemies, we may as safely conclude that 

 the attempt has failed. This, however, is perhaps 

 only partially the case, for the plant still exists in 

 spite of their ravages. There is often, especially 

 in wild plants, a recuperative power which renders 

 attempts at their destruction, even by man, utterly 

 useless. We have seen plants in our garden eaten 

 down to the crown of the root or bulb, only to 

 spring up again with renewed vigour. 



The most successful in warding off the attacks 

 of larvae are the mints (Labiatae) and gingers 

 (Zingiberaceae). Even these are, however, not 

 entirely immune, in spite of their acrid secretions, 

 for some of the looper moths feed on the flowers 

 of the Labiates, and Costus is eaten by a moth not 

 yet identified. We have never seen Selaginellas 

 eaten by any insect, although ferns are by no 

 means immune. 



Aromatic plants are liked by many of the higher 

 forms of butterflies ; Papilios are particularly fond 



