Dr. P. L. Sclater on the Birds of the Comoro Islands. 297 



their arras behind before descending to the water. The people 

 speak in an under tone when looking at the lake ; and upon the 

 occasion of our visit a small earthenware altar, on which incense 

 had been burned, was seen under an old tree. Our desire to 

 visit the spot arose from stories regarding the sacred bird, which 

 was stated to be wingless. Once there, we stuck to our guns, 

 and were successful in deciding that the wingless bird was no 

 other than a small Dabchick {Podiceps, sp.), very like the one 

 found on the mainland near Mozambique. The fish we did not 

 see ; and being unprovided with rod and line, we left the second 

 divinity for future explorers to investigate. On the lake were 

 seen also several Ducks, but none were obtained." 



Dr. Kirk did not obtain any specimens of birds in Joanna ; but 

 the late Dr. John Dickinson (whose name he introduces, and who 

 remained several weeks in Joanna in 1861 whilst on his route to 

 join the Central African Mission party on the Shire) collected 

 assiduously during his stay; and it is mainly upon Dr. Dickinson's 

 collections, which have been kindly submitted to my examina- 

 tion by his brother, Mr, E,. Dickinson, of Jarrow-upon-Tyne, that 

 I have been able to construct the following list of birds of the 

 Comoro Islands group. 



Mayotte, the last of the Comoros, and nearest Madagascar, is 

 in the possession of the French. I believe that a few birds have 

 been obtained in this island by some of the French naturalists 

 who have visited Madagascar ; but I can mention none of them, 

 except Tchitrea pretiosa, which is recorded as from that locality 

 by Lesson. 



From these various sources it appears, as will be seen by the 

 following list, that we are at present acquainted with twenty- 

 three species of birds from the Comoro Islands. Of these two 

 only [Falco minor and Turtur semitorquatus) are African species 

 that have not as yet been found in Madagascar, the Numida 

 remaining doubtful ; and two [Nectarinia comorensis and Cora- 

 copsis comorensis) are, as far as we know, peculiar to the Comoro 

 group. Coracopsis, however, is a genus peculiar to Madagascar, 

 and the species is not, in my opinion, a very distinct one. So, on 

 the whole, we must consider the Comoros, as regards their orni- 

 thology, as purely Madagascarian. 



VOL. VI. X 



