348 Mr. E. Newton's Second Visit to Madagascar. 



but did not obtain it. Dr. Meller had a specimen in that phi- 

 mage. Iris dark brown ; skin round eye light blue ; interior of 

 mouth bright yellow ; lower mandible bluish, upper black ; legs 

 lead-colour. 



32. Ceblepyris cana (Lichtenstein). 

 " Angave." 



I shot a male near Chasmanna on the 1st of October; it ap- 

 peared not to differ in plumage from the females obtained last 

 year. 



33. Artamia leucocephala (Linnseus). 



A pair of these birds were obtained by Mr. Caldwell in the 

 forest of Alanamasaotra. 



34. Le'pto'pterus viridis (Gmelin). 

 " Voron-va-sat-sat." 



Plentifully distributed all over the country I visited. It ap- 

 pears to live chiefly on caterpillars from the leaves of trees. In 

 its flight it makes tremendous dips. I never heard it utter a 

 note. There is scarcely any difference in plumage between the 

 sexes. 



35. Dicrurus forficatus (Linnseus). 

 " Drongo.'' 



After the Thrush, this I consider to be the commonest bird. 

 In its habits it is a true Shrike. I obtained several nests ; the 

 most favourite position is a bough overhanging a river. Three 

 appears to be the normal number of eggs laid. A nest I have 

 by me is composed of roots and the tendrils of some plant, and 

 is woven neatly to the fork of a bough by spiders' webs. The 

 eggs are of a pale salmon-colour, with light lilac blotches and 

 reddish-brown spots, the latter markings blurred. Long diam. 

 1"1 inch, transv. diam. "74 inch. 



36. Vanga curvirostris (Gmelin). 

 " Voron-bang," " Vanga." 



Nowhere common, and, from its retiring habits, much oftener 

 heard than seen. It appears generally to hide amongst the 

 leaves of trees. One that I killed on the 16th of September 

 had its stomach tilled with large grasshoppers. Its note is most 



