Tropical Forests 



able mud on the path. Very often (on the coast) there 

 are grey hot days when the clouds hang over it, and 

 there is not even sunshine on the foliage far above his 

 head. But the traveller's nights have been disturbed by 

 mosquitoes, he is very likely full of fever and in any 

 case is apt to be depressed, morbid, and languid. 



One understands at once why some of the most 

 degraded or lowest of the human race are only found 

 in the depths of such forests. It is a fit home for 

 Veddahs, pigmies of the Congo, and the savage Indians 

 of South America. 



Man has not obtained the mastery over this sort of 

 vegetation. Indeed their very exuberance and fertility 

 make such tropical forests scarcely more valuable than 

 a desert. 



The insect life is also abundant and exceedingly 

 vicious. Mosquitoes, centipedes, ants, gigantic horse- 

 flies whose bite produces a swelling as large as a hen's 

 egg, and the horrible " jigger " are characteristic of some 

 of them. In Malaya there are the leeches, and in South 

 America vampire-bats. 



If one could use an aeroplane and skim over the 

 surface of the foliage, one would no doubt find a vivid 

 colour and plenty of birds and insects. In South 

 Mexico, where one may sometimes catch sight of the 

 foliage surface from some projecting rock, there are 

 great patches of brilliant flowers well set off by the 

 green of the leaves. Gorgeously painted butterflies 

 visit them and are hunted by tree-frogs which are also 

 vivid and bright in colour. Tree-snakes are trying 

 to catch the frogs. There are also many brilliantly 

 coloured birds of the most varied kinds. 3 



In temperate or subtropical countries all this rich 

 and diverse life of flower, insect, bird, and beast is on 

 or near the ground so as to be seen and appreciated, 

 but in the tropical forest everything above looks black 



