308 THE LOG OF THE SUN 



The newts and common toads would be in no wise 

 dismayed by the passing of the trees, but not so 

 certain tadpoles. Those of onr ditches, it is true, 

 would live and flourish, but there are, in the world, 

 many curious kinds which hatch and grow up into 

 frogs in curled-up leaves or in damp places in 

 the forks of branches, and which would find them- 

 selves homeless without trees. Think, too, of the 

 poor green and brown tree frogs with their sucker 

 feet, compelled always to hop along the ground! 



Lizards, from tiny swifts to sixty-inch iguanas, 

 would sorely miss the trees, while the lithe green 

 tree snakes and the tree boas would have to 

 change aU their life habits in order to be able to 

 exist. But as for the cold, uncanny turtles and 

 alligators, — ^what are trees to them! 



In the evolution of the birds and other animals, 

 the cry of "excelsior" has been followed literally 

 as well as theoretically and, with a few exceptions, 

 the highest in each class have not only risen above 

 their fellows in intelligence and structure, but 

 have left the earth and climbed or flown to the 

 tree-tops, making these their chief place of abode. 



Many of the birds which find their food at sea, 

 or in the waters of stream and lake, repair to the 

 trees for the purpose of building their nests 

 among the branches. Such birds are the pelicans, 

 herons, ibises, and ospreys ; while the wood ducks 

 lay their eggs high above the ground in the hoi- 



