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 syhilla. 



I Gentropus toulou. 



