XXXV. 



SUN-BIRD IN SUMATRA. 



>ME fifteen miles from Java lies the great 

 island of Sumatra. Here we are close 

 under the Equator, for the imaginary line 

 runs obliquely through the island. A 

 beautiful Sun-Bird flits about, under the fierce rays 

 of the vertical sun, and makes its home here. It 

 has a blue patch on the forehead, and a stripe of 

 the same colour on the sides of the neck. The 

 upper part of the back is a dark red, and the 

 breast is also red, but of a lighter shade. The tail 

 feathers are blue. 



This bird, which is one of the tiny gems in the 

 family of Sun-Birds, was mentioned by Sir Stam- 



