IS IN THE GUIANA FOREST. 



be represented by a few dry sticks, which soon 

 crumble into food for their successful rivals. 



Having got so far it might be supposed that the 

 victors would rest upon their laurels. But no, they 

 have only attained to manhood and must now fight 

 with their equals. The elbowing is carried on above 

 just as it was on a lower level every effort is 

 strained to prevent a new-comer getting his share 

 of the sunlight. While the struggle was going 

 on below the trees have been stretching their limbs 

 over the little opening and only a slit may remain 

 through which the sturdy youth has pushed his 

 way. He naturally extends himself and tries to 

 rise above the others, but they, in their turn, push 

 through his branches until all are interlocked one 

 with another. So great is the confusion on this 

 account that it is impossible to discern from under- 

 neath what leaves belong to a particular trunk. 



If this were all that the forest giant had to con- 

 tend with it might be considered as a fair game, but, 

 unfortunately, the tree has other enemies. Nowhere 

 in the world are there such enormous climbing and 

 scrambling plants as in the South American forest, 

 and all these are more or less dangerous. Like the 

 trees they aim to get upward to procure enough 

 light for their gorgeous blossoms, but, having such 

 limp stems, can only do so by means of their vie- 



