158 EDGE OF THE JUNGLE 



ible force drives him out upon a leaf. Here, ap- 

 parently, instinct slightly loosens its hold, and he 

 seems to become individual for a moment, to look 

 about, and to decide upon a suitable edge or cor- 

 ner of green leaf. But even in this he probably 

 has no choice. At any rate, he secures a good 

 hold and sinks his jaws into the tissue. Stand- 

 ing firmly on the leaf, he measures his distance 

 by cutting across a segment of a circle, with one 

 of his hind feet as a center. This gives a very 

 true curve, and provides a leaf-load of suitable 

 size. He does not scissor his way across, but bit 

 by bit sinks the tip of one jaw, hook-like, into the 

 surface, and brings the other up to it, slicing 

 through the tissue with surprising ease. He 

 stands upon the leaf, and I always expect to see 

 him cut himself and his load free, Irishman-wise. 

 But one or two of his feet have invariably secured 

 a grip on the plant, sufficient to hold him safely. 

 Even if one or two of his fellows are at work 

 farther down the leaf, he has power enough in 

 his slight grip to suspend all until they have fin- 

 ished and clambered up over him with their loads. 

 Holding his bit of leaf edge-wise, he bends his 

 head down as far as possible, and secures a strong 

 purchase along the very rim. Then, as he raises 



