290 THE ODYSSEY OF AN ANIMAL COLLECTOR 
ers to the sea. The sea-bed is of coral and as the water is crystal 
clear the myriads of tropical fish of all colors can be easily ob- 
served. A small waterfall of pure cold water a few yards from a 
beautiful red gravel beach made this an ideal bathing place, as I 
was able to have a cold fresh-water shower a few yards from the 
warm sea. 
Variegated and White-fronted Lemurs were common, though 
it is possible that they were introduced. It was interesting to find 
Spiny Tenrecs and Mole-like Tenrecs on the island and also a 
shrew (Suncus). When not hunting for these elusive nocturnal 
creatures, I spent much of my time sea-bathing and canoeing. The 
brightly colored fish in a setting of fantastically colorful coral 
beds, added to the indescribable beauty of the island itself, and 
the distant views of the mainland mountains, made life here seem 
like a South Sea Island tale come true. Never before had I lived 
in such a dreamland. 
Back on the mainland once more my island companion re- 
sumed his prison life, while I made my way to some hills north- 
east of Maroantsetra. The intervening country is traversed by 
rivers and creeks which are linked by swamps, and I was thus 
able to make the whole trip by canoe, passing through channels 
bordered by the impressive Typhonodorum, a giant of the arum 
family which reaches a height of ten feet. The floating vegetation, 
in the way of water-lilies, etc., made these swamps an ideal abode 
for waterfowl, especially Pygmy Geese and jacanas, which were 
both very plentiful. 
Early in 1945 I returned to the capital, and not long after we 
heard the news of the German surrender. 
I wasted no time in getting in touch with Dr. Vevers, the 
Superintendent of the London Zoo, who wrote asking if I could 
go to Kenya to collect an elephant on my way home, and any- 
thing else I thought would be useful to the Zoo, which was by 
now much depleted of stock. 
At last the opportunity came, and I left with the valuable 
museum specimens that I had collected at odd times over a period 
of nearly six years. 
