MADAGASCAR (1) 83 
so many were brought up with the aid of a hooked stick by fishing 
for the long stem. There were two varieties in the lake—one white 
and the other a lovely blue. As a matter of interest I brought back 
a number of seeds of the latter, giving some to Kew Gardens and 
some to private people. I had taken every care to see that the right 
color was gathered, so was surprised to hear some years later that 
the seeds had all produced white flowers. After telling all con- 
cerned that the seeds were those of a beautiful blue variety my 
feelings can be imagined. However, many years later I read in a 
book on the flora of Madagascar by a French botanist that this 
particular water-lily is dimorphic—the situation in which it grows 
apparently affecting the color. 
More difficult than the acquisition of waterfowl was getting 
material to make their traveling crates. For this I went to Amba- 
tondrazaka—the nearest town—where I bought up numerous 
packing cases from the Chinese storekeepers. The problem arose 
of how to collect all these, which were scattered about in at least 
a dozen shops, and to get them to the station, which was the best 
part of a mile away. The simplest thing seemed to be to seek the 
advice of the Chef de District: he solved the difficulty there and 
then by calling out a number of prisoners in charge of a guard, 
who were instructed to follow me, drawing a large hand-cart. 
The collection by now was considerable, and at no time have 
I had less trouble to get my livestock on to a train. On the ap- 
pointed day an engine drawing a covered van was sent from 
Andréba—then the existing terminus—and drew up alongside 
my private platform where everything was stacked in readiness. 
The Forestry Department had agreed to collect a number of 
mammals, and these were linked to the train at Moramanga on 
the way to the coast. This collection was far larger than I had 
expected and included many beautiful lemurs such as the large 
black-and-white Ruffed Lemurs, and several of the rufous phase 
of this animal. But most interesting to me were five aye-ayes— 
two true pairs and a baby. 
The aye-aye is about the size of a large cat and has a long bushy 
tail, large eyes and big ears. It is nocturnal, and its odd appear- 
ance has given rise to some extraordinary superstitions. In fact 
the natives of eastern forests where the aye-aye lives are so scared 
