Mr. E. Newton's Second Visit to Madagascar. 349 



peculiar — a single one very high-pitched, and ringing like a blow 

 struck by a heavy hammer on an anvil ; this is repeated at short 

 intervals, and may be heard from a distance of half a mile. 



37. Corvus madagascariensis, Bonaparte. 

 " Quork." 



Common generally ; but at Fenerive it did not appear to be so 

 plentiful as elsewhere. They are in general very tame. The 

 eggs are in character truly typical of the genus. Long diam. 

 1*64 inch, transv. diam. 1"23 inch. 



38. Hartlaubia madagascariensis (Linnseus). 



" Vorontaynombi " (literally, " Cattle-Dung Bird," from its 

 habit of turning over cattle-dung in search of insects) . 



Met with in tolerable numbers. In the afternoon from ten 

 to twenty often assemble on some tall tree to catch the last rays 

 of the sun, as Starlings are wont to do in England. On the 

 20th of September I observed two females carrying materials for 

 their nests. 



39. AcRiDOTHERES TRisTis (Linnffius). 



At Fenerive on the 17th of September, and near Foule Point 

 on the 20th, I saw a pair of these birds. Last year, when near 

 Foule Point, Dr. Roch believed he saw a species of this genus, 

 larger than the Mauritian bird ; but I have very little doubt that 

 they are identical, having at Fenerive a very good opportunity 

 of watching a pair feeding amongst a herd of cattle. 



I do not think the species has been introduced into Mada- 

 gascar itself; but I think it is possible they may into the French 

 colony of St. Mary's close by, and from thence made their way 

 across to the main island. 



40. Nelicurvius pensilis (Gmelin). 



Two specimens of this bird, most grievously shot about, were 

 brought to me at Fenerive. 



41. Ploceus ? sp. indet. 



One of my companions found in the forest at Fenerive two 

 nests (one of which he brought in, containing young but a few 

 days old) which probably belonged to some species of Ploceus. 

 It might, however, possibly have been that of the last-mentioned 



