THE FOEEST. 11 



each other, and the weak are always using some 

 contrivance to protect themselves from the strong. 



There are a great many curious things to be 

 seen in the forest, 



In the deepest gloom, where the trees shut out 

 the sun, myriads of lights flit about, and twinkle 

 like little stars. They flash here and there, and 

 you might fancy that troops of fairies were carry- 

 ing torches in their hands ; but there are no fairies 

 in the case, the lights are only the torches of the 

 fire-flies that live in the recesses of the wood, and 

 every night make a kind of illumination amongst 

 the trees. 



Then there are troops of monkeys, that run 

 along the vegetable cables from one tree to the 

 other, or swing from the branches by their tails, 

 making a noise all the time as if they were talking 

 to each other. When night comes they roll them- 

 selves into a ball, all huddled together as close as 

 may be, to keep themselves warm. Sometimes it 

 happens that a few little monkeys have not been 

 alert enough to get into the ball, and are left 

 shivering outside. They keep up a pitiful howling 



