172 SUN-BIKD IN SUMATRA. 



ford Raffles, in a list he made of the birds of Java 

 and Sumatra. He was once governor of these 

 islands, and to him we are indebted for many dis- 

 coveries in natural history. 



It was he who first came upon the monstrous 

 flower called after himself a the Rafflesia," and 

 which was growing unknown and unheard of in 

 the forests of Sumatra. 



It belongs to a class of plants much akin 

 to the fungi, and is a parasite in its habits. 

 It has neither root nor leaves ; but the flower, 

 huge as it is, and the largest flower in the world, 

 issues from the root or stem of a tree, and 

 gradually opens its flesh-like petals. The odour it 

 gives out is anything but agreeable, and resembles 

 decaying meat. 



Here, too, is the curious leaf-like butterfly that 

 so deceives the naturalist. He sees it flying about 

 with its bright colours, and a band of deep 

 orange across its wings. Then, all at once, it is 

 gone, and seems as if it had vanished by magic. 

 He searches for it in vain ; and though he can 

 point out the exact spot where he saw it last, he 



