82 THE BEAUTIES OF NATURE chap. 



monk who accompanied us to the Rio Negro, 

 when, sinking with fatigue, he assisted in 

 arranging our accommodation for the night." 



Life is indeed among animals a struggle for 

 existence, and in addition to the more usual 

 weapons — teeth and claws — we find in some 

 animals special and peculiar means of offence 

 and defence. 



If we had not been so familiarised with the 

 fact, the possession of poison might well seem 

 a wonderful gift. That a fluid, harmless in 

 one animal itself, should yet prove so deadly 

 when transferred to others, is certainly very 

 remarkable ; and though the venom of the 

 Cobra or the Rattlesnake appeal perhaps more 

 efEectiyely to our imagination, we have con- 

 clusive evidence of concentrated poison even 

 in the bite of a midge, which may remain- for 

 days perceptible. The sting of a Bee or Wasp, 

 though somewhat similar in its effect, is a 

 totally different organ, being a modified ovi- 

 positor. Some species of Ants do not sting 

 in the ordinary sense, but eject their acrid 

 poison to a distance of several inches. 



Another very remarkable weapon is the 



