494 THE UNIVERSE. 



and terrible aspect. On one side vigorous parasites assail 

 the aged trees, forming with them an inextricable net-work 

 which the axe can scarcely cleave, whilst all progress 

 through it is impeded by bushes and tall herbs, where so 

 many redoubtable enemies lie concealed. During the day 

 all is silent : the frightful heat paralyzes the tenants of this 

 realm of vegetation, and sleep reigns everywhere. But 

 when night arrives all becomes full of life ; birds, mammals, 

 and reptiles declare war on one another, and every part 

 rings with groans and hoarse cries of pain and death. 



CHAPTER II. 



GIANTS OF THE VEGETABLE KINGDOM. 



LIKE animals, plants may be infinitely little or infinitely 

 huge ; the latter astonish us by their colossal proportions, 

 while the former escape our ken, and are only revealed by 

 the microscope. 



The study of the development of plants in respect to 

 their mere size presents us with some curious contrasts. 



Some rudimentary plants, such as the Ascophori, Mould 

 Fungi, which so frequently invade our bread, and the As- 

 pergilli, which we often see forming in the fluids we drink, 

 glairy, repulsive-looking films, possess an almost invisible 

 stalk. Woody plants, on the contrary, often astonish us by 

 the enormous dimensions of this part. 



The old authors who describe Germany tell us that there 

 were trees there, from the trunk of one of which boats were 

 made which carried as many as thirty men. 



