observed in Madagascar. 269 



over the village in the same manner as Kites are wont to do ; 

 and another the following day, as we were proceeding to Ampa- 

 simbe. Iris black, tip of beak black, cere and base yellow, legs 

 bright yellow, claws black. 



8. ? Strix flammea, Linn.; llartl. p. 24. 



At Antananarivo, we found that this bird inhabited the cele- 

 brated " Tarpeian Rock " on the west side of the town. Every 

 evening that we were there, we observed several leave it shoitly 

 after sunset, and soar away over the plain below, " snoring" as 

 they flew, exactly like the European species. We were unable to 

 obtain a specimen ; and this was the only place at which we 

 either saw or heard it. Erom the number of rats and mice that 

 are to be seen everywhere, these birds cannot have much diffi- 

 culty in getting a living ; and there are but few cats to divide the 

 spoil with them*. 



* We are indebted to the kindness of the Rev. W. Ellis (author of 

 ' Three Visits to Madagascar,' &c.) for tlic following information respecting 

 the superstition of the natives about Owls in general : — 



" In Madagascar, the Owl is regsirded as a bird of evil omen and malign 

 influence. The natives call it Foronc/o/o (ghost-bird) ; and as ghosts or 

 spirits are regarded by the Malagasy as ministers of evil, and Owls and also 

 cats are supposed to be [)ersonifications of evil spirits or mediums tlirough 

 which they afflict the people, they are on this account objects of ai)prclu;n- 

 sion and terror amongst all classes excepting Christians. If a man setting 

 out on a journey, or about to commence any important work, were to see 

 an Owl, he would halt or return, instead of prosecuting his journey, or 

 would defer his work. And were an Owl to be seen near his dwelling, it 

 would fill his family with alarm, as the sign of approaching calamity. A 

 Malagasy can emi)loy no e])ithet more expressive of the malignity and 

 wickedness of any one whom he may wish to injure; in the estimation of 

 others than to call him ' owl ' or ' cat.' Tiiese creatures are generally 

 driven from the neighbourhood of their dwellings, hence the intolerable 

 swarms of rats and vermin with which they are infested. The natives, 

 when questioned, assign as the ground of their opinions the mysterious 

 existence of the Owl, which lives in concealment among rocks or trees, 

 its nocturnal habits, its singular and unbirdlike visage, with its large eyes, 

 its peculiar cry, and especially its hovering or flitting through the air at 

 the beginning of the night. It is not known to what extent tliey are con 

 sidered to be connected with the practice of sorcery, witchcraft, or other 

 evil influences of supposed supernatural origin ; but as tlie prejudice against 

 cats is subsiding, and some of the natives prefer them to rats and mice. 



