296 Dr. P. L. Sclater on the Birds of the Comoro Islands. 



ferns and lycopodiums, clothes the hills. The soil consists of 

 damp, decaying vegetation, the shade being too damp to allow of 

 grass. These are the haunts of the Lemur anjuanensis, which 

 may be found in pairs, of a cold morning, rolled up in a ball, 

 perched on some branch. The Parrot peculiar to these islands 

 and a large, plump, solitary Pigeon are also found in these 

 forests. The latter is a fine bird, making a good appearance on 

 the table. The Centetes runs about among the rotten branches 

 in search of insects. The Centetes is strictly a nocturnal animal ; 

 but in the daytime, with the assistance of a dog, may be found 

 easily, as it hides under a leaf or a log of wood. Sometimes, 

 when started, it makes oflF with a number of young ones in a line 

 after it. It is not at all fierce, but, when caught old, is rather 

 dangerous, giving a nasty wound with its long tusks. The 

 young ones, however, soon become quiet, and, on board ship, are 

 extremely useful, devouring at night great numbers of cock- 

 roaches, and remaining concealed during the day. Both old and 

 young Centetes, however, eat fruit as well as insects, and are very 

 fond of flesh. Mr. W. Sunley, H. B. M. Consul for the islands 

 (resident at Joanna, where he owns a large sugar-estate), informed 

 me that some carnivorous animal exists on the island. While 

 Dr. Dickinson lived there, one was obtained for him ; but, being 

 allowed to get loose, it killed in one night several of his fowls. 

 A Rat, with a musky odour, is also a great annoyance in Joanna, 

 tainting wine, sugar, and anything it may pass over. In the 

 rivers of Joanna are four or more species of fish, which offer 

 sport to the angler ; but the streams are small. In the marshes 

 an Eel is found, differing from the species in the streams. In 

 the forest and near the sides of the mountain-torrents a large 

 Land- Crab is said to exist, but to be rare. A Cyclostoma picked 

 up proved to be of the division peculiar to the Mascarene Islands, 

 Madagascar, and the Seychelles. 



" A small hill-tarn, 2000 feet above the sea, named Zalanza, 

 the head of one of the ravines shut off by a transverse dyke, 

 contains a bird and fish reputed to be sacred. The people (not 

 the Arab portion) annually make a visit to the lake, and certain 

 rites are performed. It is difficult to get them to conduct 

 strangers thither, and such persons are commonly made to leave 



