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 
