THE STRUGGLE FOR LIFE. 167 



leaves, and however it may constrict the hard stem, 

 not the slightest injury results. The magnificent 

 Oreodoxa oleracea the palmiste of the West 

 Indies is often covered with a network of the 

 creeping fig (Ficus stipulate?), which gives to what 

 otherwise would have been a bare column, a most 

 pleasing decoration. This, however, can only be 

 produced when the palm stands apart from other 

 trees, as in the forest sufficient light cannot be 

 obtained. Possibly the high position in the vege- 

 table kingdom which has been obtained by palms 

 is partly due to their perfect immunity from the 

 attacks of stranglers and blood-suckers, as well as 

 to their greater ability to hold their own in the 

 great struggle for life. As for loranths they can 

 never succeed in getting a foot-hold on the hard 

 palm fronds, and if it were not for insect enemies 

 these " princes of the vegetable kingdom " would 

 be perfectly safe. 



We have already hinted that the dense shade of 

 the forest is a protection against undue rivalry. 

 Only light is wanted to make the space between 

 the tree-trunks an impenetrable jungle. In tem- 

 perate climates most trees are bare for half the 

 year, but fortunately for them this happens when 

 nature is sleeping. Here in the tropics there is no 

 rest Day after day, and to a certain extent even 



