IN THE PRIMEVAL FOREST 215 



phylliditis) with long, graceful fronds growing on 

 decaying logs, and on the ground — the lovely sword 

 ferns. There are many others too numerous for 

 special mention. 



We may enter a road cut long ago through the 

 forest and follow it until it becomes a veritable 

 tunnel, the top and sides of which are formed by 

 the tall, closely set trees. We are now in the 

 primeval forest and on either side of us is a solid 

 wall of vegetation towering up sixty or seventy 

 feet. The sight to me is always an inspiring one 

 and it fills me with a vague sense of fear. The 

 trees are not so large as some of northern forests, 

 but they are tall, straight, and huddled together, 

 and are interwoven above in an inextricable tangle. 

 Overhead the sky is almost wholly shut out by the 

 dense canopy of foliage and though it is midday 

 outside it is evening within, in places almost night. 

 The character of this forest is very different from 

 that of its own borders or from that of most ham- 

 mocks of Lower Florida. This forest is quite open 

 below, having but little undergrowth on account 

 of the darkness, and there are almost no vines 

 or sprawlers. Within a radius of fifty feet one 

 may find as many species of trees and large 



