86 VOYAGES OF A NATURALIST 



sugar cane and maize being the principal crops, 

 while a few limes are also grown. Our first ex- 

 cursion was to the cultivated country close to the 

 harbour, where several interesting birds and butter- 

 flies were obtained. Among the former should be 

 mentioned the white-eye,* a little bird of about 

 the size of a willow-wren, but of a deep lemon- 

 yellow colour on the breast, and with pale chestnut 

 flanks. The eye is encircled by a ring of white 

 silky feathers. This species is peculiar to Mayotte, 

 and is one of the commonest birds there. They 

 were in large flocks, especially at the edge of the 

 mangrove swamps. 



Paradise flycatchers were also seen in plenty, 

 and one of these birds which we shot proved to 

 belong to a new species, f A beautiful little sun- 

 bird was also very common near the shore, and 

 two species of red weaver birds were obtained. 

 One of these, Nesocanthis eminentissima, which 

 is peculiar to the Comoro Islands, is slightly 

 larger than our sparrow, and the male has a bright 

 crimson breast during the breeding season, but 

 when not in breeding plumage it is dull olive-brown, 

 like the females and young. The other weaver 

 bird, called Foudia madagascariensis, is of a 

 brilliant scarlet, the back being spotted with black. 

 It is probable that this species, in common with 

 other birds, has been introduced from 

 Madagascar. 



* Zosterops mayottensis. f Terpsiphone lindsayi. 



