I6o IN THE GUIANA FORES1. 



a flowery pall, spreads over a dozen other trees, and 

 glories in its triumph. Later, when atmospheric 

 agencies and termites have done their work, we see 

 the empty coil of the monster hanging in mid-air 

 and helping with others to produce the effect of 

 great cables hanging from tall masts. 



Other bush-ropes (as they are called in Guiana) 

 do not constrict, but simply smother their hosts. 

 As they reach the sunlight they, by growing faster 

 than the tree, quickly spread over the neighbour- 

 hood until the light is entirely shut out from below. 

 Of course the tree does its best, pushes a twig here 

 and there through the mat of its enemy, but rarely 

 if ever conquers him. For ages the climber has 

 been at work and learnt how to fight for its 

 position, until now the tree is almost entirely 

 at its mercy. 



However, even this powerful monster is afflicted 

 with some disabilities. Like other plants its seeds 

 must have a certain amount of light before they 

 can even begin to grow, and if the canopy above is 

 quite unbroken its efforts to rise are fruitless. 

 But there is a class of plants which has got 

 over this difficulty by commencing at the top. 

 Woe betide the forest giant when he falls into 

 the clutches of the wild fig. Its seed being 

 provided with a pulp, which is very pleasant to 



