96 VOYAGES OF A NATURALIST 



strip of forest in the neighbourhood of the Camp 

 d'Ambre. 



The cultivated ground at the foot of the valley 

 was only a few acres in extent, and not many birds 

 were to be seen there. A pair of wagtails,* feeding 

 in a small stream of water, and a stonechatf were 

 both interesting because found only in Madagascar; 

 but on the edge of the cultivation I saw a bird of 

 more general interest the lark-heeled cuckoo. J 

 The foot of this bird is most remarkable. The two 

 toes which point forward are normal, but the two 

 which project backwards are of a peculiar forma- 

 tion, one of them being fitted with a short curved 

 claw, while the other has a long straight spur, 

 like the hind claw of a skylark. This species also 

 is found only in Madagascar, where it appears to 

 be abundant. There were great numbers of 

 weaver-birds in the cultivated ground, and they 

 all belonged to the brilliantly coloured species 

 (Foudia madagascariensis), which we had met with 

 at Mayotte. 



Early in the afternoon it began to rain, and this 

 developed into a steady downpour which continued 

 for the rest of the day. We were soon wet 

 through, and in this condition had to attend a 

 reception. We were received by the colonel 

 commanding the camp, and his staff, and were 

 so hospitably entertained that it was long after 



* Motacilla flaviventris. f Pratincola sybilla. 



J Centropus toulou. 



