296 IN THE GUIANA FOREST. 



it in the forest ; each irtdividual strives to get a 

 share of the sunlight, and elbows every one that 

 stands in its way, in some cases climbing upon 

 their shoulders, and in others trampling them down. 

 We can hardly conceive of selfishness without a 

 self, and, if we go a little further, must admit that 

 the word also implies consciousness. Few persons 

 are able to appreciate the fact that trees are indi- 

 viduals, although few would question this in the 

 case of such animals as dogs, cats, and horses, 

 while the shepherd would claim distinctness for 

 every sheep in his flock. Here in the tropics we 

 have a class of plants the epiphytal orchids of 

 which the individuals can be recognised from each 

 other by every one who has studied them. Efforts 

 are continually being made to arrange these into 

 species and varieties, but every orchid fancier 

 knows how difficult this is. No two are exactly 

 alike. Apart from size of flower and leaf, which 

 may be credited to the effect of surroundings, there 

 are differences in colour, shape, and markings which 

 stamp every one as peculiar and distinct A careful 

 observer knows his plants as he does his friends, 

 although he cannot always explain how he does 

 this any more than he could say why he recognises 

 a hundred different negroes or Chinamen from each 

 other. 



