62 WONDERS OF THE TiiOPICAL FORESTS. 
the ommation with which the islander of the Indian 
Ocean recounts its " hundred uses " or at the Buperstition 
which makes him believe that, by some mysterioua 
symimthy, it pines when beyond the reach of the human 
voice. But man is not the only being that profits by 
its gifts, for wherever it grows, its sweet and nutritions 
nnts are eagerly sought for by many animals. The 
small black long-clawed cocoa-nut bear, which inhabits 
Sumatra and Borneo, and surpasses all other members 
of the Ursine family by its surprising agility in clirab- 
iag, though far from despising other fruit, yet shows 
by its name to which side its iucliuations chiefly lean. 
The East Indian Palm-martin and the sprightly Palm- 
ualait beau, palm etjtjiiiuiu.. 
squirrel likewise climb the cocoa-palmSj and, perforating 
the soft and unripe nuts, eagerly sip their juice. The 
ubiquitous rat bites holes into the cocoa-nuts close to 
their stalk, taking good care not to gnaw the shell 
where the juice would run out and defraud it of its 
meal. 
Even the birds diminish the produce of the cocoa- 
nut grove. The Noddy builds his nest between the 
footstalks, and picks so busily at the blossom, when 
stormy weather prevents him making any long excur- 
sions, that on many islands he is considered as a chief 
cause of the sterility of numerous palms. 
In every zone we find nations in a low degree of civili- 
sation living almost exclusively upon a single animal or 
