120 FAUNA OF THE TROPICAL FOREST 



escape, and will even attack human beings if from' any 

 cause these are rendered incapable of defence or flight. 



The termites, or so-called white ants, are as a rule 

 less obvious in the dense forest than in more open 

 country, but some species do occur there. Other 

 members of the same order form the beautiful stick 

 and leaf insects, predatory forms which often show 

 a marked resemblance to the vegetation among which 

 they live. As well as with insects the tropical forest 

 swarms with scorpions, spiders, including the large 

 bird-catching form of South America, and ticks, which, 

 like flies, serve for the transmission of deadly diseases. 

 As most of these forms do not, however, show special 

 adaptations to forest life, it is sufficient to merely 

 indicate their abundance, which has a marked effect 

 upon the life of other organisms in forest areas. 



We may add that, just as a few fish in tropical 

 climates have taken advantage of the greater oppor- 

 tunities which the land offers as compared with the 

 sea to acquire partially terrestrial habits, so various 

 crabs have become partially adapted for life on land, 

 and wander about in those forest regions which are at 

 no very great distance from the sea. to which they 

 return for breeding purposes. 



References. In regard to the animals of the African forests. Sir 

 H. H. Johnson's works give very full details, with many figures ; see 

 British Central Africa (London, 1897) ; The Uganda Protectorate (2 vols., 

 London, 1902) ; Liberia (2 vols., London, 1906). Lydeker's Oame 

 Animals of Africa (London, 1908) should abo be consulted. Wallace's 

 Malay Archipelago (London, 1869) gives a fascinating account of the 

 animals of that region, and the same author's Tropical Nature (London, 

 1878) may also be mentioned. Bates's Naturalist on the Amazons (5th ed., 

 London, 1884), and Belt's Naturalist in Nicaragua (2nd ed., London, 

 1888), give good accounts of South and Central American animals. For 

 details as to the animals, reference should again be made to the natural 

 histories already mentioned. 



