162 IN THE GUIANA FOREST. 



which are stronger than iron bands. Like an athlete 

 he tries to expand and burst his fetters, and if they 

 were rigid he might succeed. But the strangler is 

 like a python, and almost seems as if provided with 

 muscles. The bark between every interlacing 

 bulges out and even tries to overlap, but the 

 monster has taken every precaution against this by 

 making its bands very numerous and wide. We 

 can almost see the struggle, and, knowing what 

 will be the result, must pity the victim. 



As the tree becomes weaker its leaves begin to 

 fall, and this gives more room for its foe. Soon 

 the strangler expands itself into a great bush, 

 almost as large as the mass of branches and foliage 

 it has effaced. Its glossy leaves shine in the sun- 

 light, and it seems to glory in its work. Every 

 branch is clean and sleek, not a lichen or fungus 

 can find shelter anywhere. It has got on the 

 shoulders of the forest giant, but does not intend 

 to support in its turn even the tiniest dwarf. If we 

 could forget its murderous work, how we should 

 admire it ! Take the Clusia insignis> for example. 

 Here we have one of the most beautiful shrubs in the 

 world. Its thick leathery leaves shine as if polished, 

 and its green sleek branches always look clean and 

 healthy. As it sits crowing, as it were, over its 

 victim, the contrast between them is most striking. 



