observed in Madagascar. 271 



" These birds, from their habits and mode of flight true 

 Rollers, were very numerous in the thin forest close to the 

 village of Farafata, about six miles to the northward of Tamatave. 

 They appear to evince a predilection for patches of forest that 

 have been burnt, where they may be seen, generally in pairs, 

 perched upon the branch of some tall, bare tree, sheltering their 

 bodies from view behind the branch, uttering a hoarse chatter. 

 They did not fly far when fired at or disturbed, but they would 

 dive through the wood with considerable swiftness, again to take 

 their station behind a branch on another withered tree. They 

 nest in the fork or hollow of some tall isolated monarch of the 

 forest, frequently choosing one devoid of any foliage. On the 

 topmost branch one may always be seen upon the watch, while 

 the other forages for food in the neighbourhood. On its cry of 

 alarm the mate quickly appears, and both display considerable 

 courage in repelling the intruder upon their solitude, probably 

 a Kite in search of their young. I have frequently seen them 

 do this in the burnt jungle on the left of the road between 

 Nosibey and Foule Point. They increase their chattering 

 hoarse cry when attacking the Kite.'' — S. R. 



14. Atelornis PiTTOiDEs (Lafr.) ; Hartl. p. 29. (PI. IX.) 

 It was getting dark as we approached Alanamasaotra on our 



journey up, when we saw several of these birds run across the 

 path; one of them was shot by Dr. Roch. On our return we saw 

 one again, but it was only in the dusk of the evening. It is 

 singular that such a brightly coloured species should only appear 

 at nightfall, as it would seem alone to do. They have a very 

 peculiar manner of jerking their tails when they alight on a 

 branch. As far as we observed, they always kept very near the 

 ground, and are probably ground-feeders. 



15. IspiDiNA MADAGASCARiENSis (Linn.) ; Hart], p. 30. 



A specimen was obtained by us in the great forest of Alana- 

 masaotra, on the 27th of October — the only one seen. 



16. CoRYTHORNis viNTsioiDES (Lafrcsuayc) ; Hartl. p. 31. 

 " Vinchi." 



Tolerably common along the coast, and we observed it up the 

 country as far as Beforona. 



