144 IN THE GUIANA FOREST. 



glowing colours from his rays. We may, however, 

 mention those which open early in the morning 

 and close before the light becomes too strong for 

 their delicate complexions. Perhaps the best- 

 known example is the morning glory, but other 

 Convolvulaceae, orchids, and bignonias are equally 

 striking. Then, again, there are species which 

 cannot bear the least dampness, but wait until the 

 sun is well up before they open, and close again 

 as the shadows lengthen or earlier in cloudy 

 weather. Another class open towards nightfall, 

 but these approach that very large division which 

 is nocturnal in its habits. 



What a glorious assemblage are the night 

 bloomers ! The Victoria regia, the Cereus and 

 other Cacti, the Daturas, with a host of other 

 white flowers, all open at sunset, distil their 

 perfumes and diffuse them through the damp air. 

 Then come those other white flowers which remain 

 open during the day, but continue almost, or quite, 

 scentless until recovered from the effects of the 

 burning sun at nightfall. In the forest many trees 

 bear insignificant-looking greenish-white flowers, 

 hardly worth looking at. But, paddle along near 

 the bank of the river at night, and you will be 

 astonished at the different perfumes wafted from 

 these poor little blossoms. Now, it is an odour of 



