m SUMATRA. 



209 



feet I smldeiily emerged on the edge of one of the niaoy 

 gorges which deeply grooved the aide of the moimtain, and 

 stood clear uf the tidl forest. 



During my progress through the lower zones few insects, 

 bnt some very interesting forms of birds, had been noticed. 

 Besides the species I have mentiuned above, I shot a rare 

 grass warbler {Sutja (dhignJaris), previously known only from 

 Sumatra^ by one example from Acheen, in the north of the 

 island ; and twittering in low bushes a little fly-catcher, not 

 before taken in this island — Culicicapa eetfhnensis. At 

 5000 feet, hopi>iiig about on fallen logs, dodging in the low 

 bosh tangle, a black chat-thrush {Bnu^hyptertix atndm) with 

 a bright white line over the eye, fell to my gun, which was 

 not my luck in regard to the beautiful Paradise fly-catcher 

 (Terps^fhone ajirm) which I saw — a pure white bird with 

 long black-shafted taiUfeuthens, named by the natives Tjisddi I 

 Eapan which signifies the white cloth in which the dead are 1 

 wrapped, as they believe that he by whom it is seen has not i 

 long to live. 



At 8600 feet the tall forest suddenly ceased, and among my 

 feet I found some splended ericas of various species, the most 

 conspicuous being that which the natives have named " Tree 

 of the long age " {Kayu panjatig umoor)f a new species ( Fac- 

 einium firbmii), and one of the most hiindsome of its genus, 

 it was first met with as a shrub, low and cumpiictj but 500 feet 

 higher it became a tree with a ciicumference of four feet 

 This, with the scarlet rbo<lodendron already mentioned, and 

 many species of ferns, monopolised the mountain up to 9000 

 feet, where I gathered, with perhaps more satisfaotion still, a 

 wee species of Gentiiin that expanded its blue flowers on the 

 bare earthy banks. 



To obtain the fall pleasure of the climb, the day must be 

 perfectly clear, such as the first day of May on which I made 

 my most memorable ascent. It was one of the few absolutely 

 rainless days of my stay. When that height was attained 

 where the forest dwindled to a shrubbery, every foot of ascent 

 added to the grandeur of our outlook and to the number of 

 the peaks on peaks that came in view, along whose flanks the 

 clouds rolled upwards in white humps and scuds, in striking 

 contrast with the intense cobalt bhie of their crests towering 



p 



