THE FIERY-TAILED SUN-BIRD. 175 



India is the home of almost every beautiful 

 bird, insect, and flower, that exists within the 

 range of the Tropics ; and the scenery in many 

 parts may well be compared to fairy-land. 



Here grow the trees and plants which are of 

 such service to man, and the products of which 

 are borne in merchant- vessels to every part of the 

 globe. The cotton, the rice, the arrow-root, the 

 indigo, all kinds of dyes, and spices, and fabrics 

 of the finest texture, almost as fine as gossamer, 

 come from India. And here are pearls, and 

 ivory, and gold, and gems indeed, the riches of 

 the world seem poured out in this favoured land. 



The fertility of India is occasioned by the 

 plentiful supply of moisture yielded to it. The 

 mountain ranges, which look down on the plains of 

 India, have their summits covered with snow. The 

 melting of the snow forms the source of number- 

 less streams, and of the great rivers that gladden 

 the land. Thus supplied with heat and moisture, 

 herbs, trees, and flowers flourish with the utmost 

 luxuriance. 



Beautiful birds surround us on every hand. 



