THE TROPICAL FOREST 97 



ripe, there will also be many others. On the other hand, 

 just as man has to hunt for individual camphor trees 

 in the Formosan forests^ or for individual rubber trees 

 in the Brazilian forest, so must the fruit-ea,ting wild 

 mammals hunt through the forest for the scattered 

 trees whose fruits supply their hunger. This is perhaps 

 part of the reason why the tropical forest seems to the 

 explorer to be deprived of animal life save insects and 

 reptiles, part of the reason why the forest mammals 

 mostly occur in relatively small numbers. 



If we consider in systematic order the groups of 

 animals showing adaptation to life in the tropical forest, 

 we naturally begin with the Primates, whose members 

 display practically all those characters which we have 

 described. Their long arms and short legs, their oppos- 

 able thumbs and great toes, their strong clavicles, in 

 some instances their prehensile tails, their pectoral 

 mammae, and the reduction in the number of yoimg 

 at a birth — all these fit them for life among the trees. 

 On the other hand, their generalized teeth, the number 

 of fingers and toes present^ the condition of the bones 

 of the limbs, and other characters, show their descent 

 from relatively primitive ancestors, specialization show- 

 ing itself chiefly in brain development, and in the fact 

 that the hands are progressively suited for many uses, 

 in addition to their prime function as aids in chmbing. 



One point of structure is interesting. Most herbi- 

 vorous, or partially herbivorous, animals are specially 

 exposed to danger when feeding, for large quantities 

 of vegetable food must be taken^ Many of the ungulates 

 have an arrangement whereby the hastily swallowed 

 food can be stored within the ahmentary canal, careful 

 mastication taking place later. In most of the monkeys, 

 on the other hand, food can be temporarily stored in 



1404 G 



