Mr. E. Newton^s Second Visit to Madagascar. 333 



XXIX. Notes of a Second Visit to Madagascar. 

 By Edward Newton, M.A., C.M.Z.S. 



I HAVE much pleasui'e in being able to forward the bird-notes 

 of a second visit to IMadagascar. I left Mauritius on the 30th 

 August, 1862, on board of H.M.S.S. 'Gorgon ; * but light winds 

 prevented our reaching Tamatave before the 5th September. 

 For the first week we remained at Tamatave or in its neighbour- 

 hood, chiefly at Soamandrikazay, on the Hivondrona river, and 

 about four miles from its mouth, where we were most hospitably 

 entertained by Mr. Ferdinand Fiche. I say " we,^^ for the 

 party consisted of Mr. G. E. Maule, Lieut. R.A., who had come 

 down in the ' Gorgon,' and Mr. J. Magee, a gentleman who 

 for three months had been collecting the rare and splendid 

 orchids of the country. We then proceeded to Foule Point 

 and Fenerive by easy stages, arriving at the latter on the 16th 

 September. There is but little variety in the country between 

 Tamatave and Fenerive ; the route lies close along the coast, for 

 a great part of the way on the beach, the men and ourselves 

 often walking in the surf for the sake of the firmer tread the 

 wet sand afibrded us. When the path leaves the shore, it passes 

 through thick scrubby bush, which, shutting out the wind, but 

 allowing the sun at mid-day to come streaming down, makes 

 walking in the deep sand weary work, — or over large plains of 

 grass, closely eaten down by the large herds of cattle. Several 

 rivers have to be crossed ; and as there is generally only one 

 small canoe for the passage, and that often on the wrong side of 

 the river, with the ferryman absent, much time is lost in getting 

 men and baggage ovei', the former being nearly always too much 

 afraid of the " Voay" (Crocodiles) to swim across* About five 

 miles from Fenerive the country becomes slightly undulating, 

 and apparently continues so for some miles to the northward. 

 We left Fenerive on the 19th, and reached Soamandrikazay 

 again on the 21st. Thence we proceeded up the right fork 

 of the river called Fangandrafrah in canoes for about fifteen 



* At one narrow, clear stream, however, just before reaching Foule Point, 

 there was a very decent bridge ; and below it we found the scarce Lattice- 

 leaved plant {Ouvirandra fenestralis) growing plentifull5\ 



