Armored Against Its Enemies 



The desert cactus shown in the accompanying direct color 

 photograph print portrays a typical arrangement of armor, 

 although many forms of cactus are more heavily spined even than 

 this. In addition to the large bristling spines which fan out in 

 every direction, there are hidden behind each rosette a 

 bundle of undeveloped spines, numbering often as 

 high as ten thousand to each eye. When the 

 outward spines are cut off, these push 

 their way forward with surpris- 

 ing rapidity to protect the 

 gap in the armor. 



