Dr. P. L. Sclatei- on the Birds of the Comoro Islands. 295 



hill-slopes afford timber of considerable size ; but there does not 

 exist the damp primeval forest which clothes Joanna. The 

 main peak of Mohilla is only about 4000 feet high, and there- 

 fore catches very little moisture. A few birds were obtained 

 while we touched at this island, and a considerable number of 

 plants. The Mammalia spoken of by the people were the Cen- 

 tetes, called by the same name as in Joanna, ' Landa,^ and a 

 large frugivorous Bat. The latter was extremely common, during 

 the day hanging in dark masses on the branches of shaded 

 trees. Their food was principally wild figs and the fruit of the 

 Vitex. Their flesh is extremely good, tender, and well-flavoured. 

 Pigeons of several sorts were seen ; and a dark Parrot [Coracopsis 

 comorensis) , Bee-eaters [Merops super ciliosus), and a small King- 

 fisher were met with in the belt of vegetation along the coast." 

 Such are Dr. Kirk^s notes on Mohilla. I am not aware that 

 any other naturalist has ever visited the island. The species of 

 birds obtained by Dr. Kirk during his short stay were foui', 

 namely — 



Hypsipetes ourovang. Foudia madagascariensis. 



Bernieria madagascariensis. Merops super ciliosus. 



Joanna, or Anjuan, the third island of the Comoros, is the 

 one with which we are best acquainted. Dr. W. Peters, of Berlin, 

 made a short stay here during his residence in Mozambique ; 

 and, although the second volume of the * Zoologische Keise,' 

 treating of the birds, is not yet published. Dr. Peters's kindness 

 in sending me a written notice of the species obtained there 

 has enabled me to introduce them into my list. 



Dr. Kirk, who also visited Joanna on several occasions during 

 his service with the recent Zambesi expedition, gives me the fol- 

 lowing notes on this island : — 



" Joanna seems to be the most humid of the Comoro group. 

 A ridge of high land, rising in places to 6000 feet above the sea- 

 level, extends all through the island, with passes, however, across 

 it not exceeding 3000 feet. The slopes of this range are inter- 

 sected by deep ravines, and it is by no means possible to pass at 

 will from one ridge to another. The rocks are precipitous, and 

 overgrown with a tangled mesh of vegetation, covering deep cracks 

 and fissures. Higher up a dense forest of great trees, hung with 



