i;o IN THE GUIANA FOREST. 



stiffness. All, however, do not choose their hours 

 of relaxation at the same time, but as in the case 

 of animals, there are some which work at night, 

 when they bring to perfection that intricate process, 

 the fertilisation of their flowers. The night workers 

 close their corollas against the bright sunlight, and 

 only open them to commence the work of distilling 

 perfumes after nightfall. Then the whole forest 

 is noisy with the din of myriads of insects, and 

 perfumes are wafted in every direction, floating 

 downward from the tree- tops, and rising from the 

 host of water-lilies which cover the open parts 

 of the creeks. 



At such times (the flowering seasons) every plant 

 must be particularly active, as its leaves work 

 during the day and its flowers at night. The most 

 strenuous efforts seem to be put forth to attract 

 nocturnal insects, with most wonderful results, and 

 when it is considered that during all this time the 

 tree continues to wage war against its neighbours 

 so as to hold its own, the amount of labour is seen 

 to be something enormous. For years it has been 

 gathering strength and struggling for room to 

 develop its flowers, and now the critical period has 

 arrived. 



