THE STRUGGLE FOR LIFE. 159 



tims. Some twine round the trees like monster 

 pythons, others produce aerial roots which cling 

 to the bark ; some push themselves through the 

 branches and twigs, and then spread out their 

 arms as it were to prevent falling back, while one 

 at least walks up the trunks like a cat by dig- 

 ging its claws into them. As their seeds germinate 

 in the forest they are poor, weakly, little things, 

 seeming altogether helpless, only looking for some 

 friendly trunk to help them in their progress up- 

 wards. The tree is unfortunately wanting in the 

 ability to refuse this help and consequently the 

 twining malefactor obtains a footing. It grows 

 very quickly, its soft body accommodating itself 

 to the shape of its host, and coiling round and 

 round until it reaches the top. Here its point 

 is pushed through the smallest crevice and the 

 monster opens its leaves to the sunlight. What 

 a striking change ! Branches are thrown out in 

 every direction, the coil thickens and compresses 

 the tree-trunk, and very soon the poor forest giant 

 begins to suffer. Being an exogen it cannot bear 

 compression its leaves begin to fall, and this 

 makes all the more room for the great mat which 

 is being spread all over its head. By and by, as 

 the vegetable python constricts its host more and 

 more, the tree dies ; then the victor covers it with 



