154 IN THE GUIANA FOREST. 



labour of many years positions gained by unre- 

 mittent effort. Thousands of competitors have 

 been overcome in the struggle, and here we have 

 the strongest and fittest surviving to continue the 

 strife. For it does not follow that because they 

 have attained a certain position, they are, there- 

 fore, the more able to take things quietly. They 

 are surrounded by neighbours, every one of which 

 is prepared to take advantage of the least oppor- 

 tunity. They spread their branches over each 

 other, push through any little aperture where 

 light has been allowed to penetrate, doing their 

 level best to smother the weak ones. Fortunately, 

 however, every tree is continually on the watch, 

 and, as his neighbour raises himself a little, 

 he expends a branch upward to cope with the 

 enemy. Down below a similar struggle is going 

 on. In the same way that the branches strive to 

 gain a little more sunlight so the roots strain after 

 food and water. They stretch to long distances, 

 here climbing over or under the great feet of their 

 rivals, and there disputing every drop and morsel 

 with their delicate fibrous mouths. Above, as well 

 as below, the immediate surroundings are occupied 

 by dense assemblages of branches, through which 

 it is impossible to penetrate, but in both places 

 there are always extensions to long distances. These 



