IN THE SWAMP. 213 



first our eyes are dazzled by the contrast, and we 

 can hardly look up, but as they become more 

 accustomed to the glare we can see over the wide 

 meadow-like expanse which stretches for miles on 

 either hand. 



Here at least it may be said that there is light 

 enough for everything to have its share. But 

 when we observe how dense are the sedges, and 

 that even the creek is almost choked with vegeta- 

 tion, this opinion is expressed with some hesita- 

 tion. Let us look a little closer, and what do we 

 find ? Why, the struggle for life is even more 

 intense than in the forest ! There the trees 

 extend themselves over each other and form great 

 canopies ; here the flood will not admit of such a 

 thing. Anything that could be taken hold of by 

 the water would quickly be uprooted and carried 

 off; it has followed, therefore, that the form of leaf 

 which offers least resistance has been chosen. This 

 is undoubtedly the long and tapering foliage of 

 grasses and sedges. These admit of a rise and fall 

 almost to any extent, and being flexible accommo- 

 date themselves also to a pretty strong current. 

 How densely they are packed ! We might fancy 

 that the sunlight would penetrate right down to 

 the ground ; but drag up one of the sedges, and its 

 base is seen to be bleached as if it grew in the 



