138 Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society. 



The Betsileo, on the other hand, although kind and hospit- 

 able, have not the intellectual vigour of the Hova, having no 

 idea of combination or government, divided into numerous 

 tribes, which are often again sub-divided among petty chiefs, 

 they are continually at variance with their neighbours, and 

 few weeks or months pass without some disturbance or other. 



This race is evidently of African origin, and bears consider- 

 able resemblance to those on the opposite coast of the main- 

 land. Unlike the Hova, they are averse to religion or any 

 systematic education. They are darker in complexion, more 

 robust, and altogether have a finer physique than the Hova 

 race ; they are franker, more manly, less deceitful, and more 

 honest than the Hova. 



Although nominally regarded subject to the Hova, they for 

 the most part refuse to allow the Hova to have any practical 

 authority over them, and are only kept in check by detach- 

 ments of Hova soldiers scattered through the country. The 

 Hovas are skilful in the manufacture of silver and iron work, 

 imitating for the most part European designs. There is no 

 evidence of native art in the shape of carvings, or woven 

 designs, except such as has been borrowed recently from the 

 ruder Betsildo. The Betsileo, on the other hand, display 

 carvings on all their tombs and houses of any importance, 

 and their mats and native cloth are often figured with elabor- 

 ate and chaste designs. 



Mammalia. 



Of the Mammalia, there are twenty-seven genera, containing 

 sixty-five species, found in the island. Of these there are only 

 six genera found in the African continent, and these with one 

 exception are widely distributed over the world, being almost 

 cosmopolite. 



Hence the relations of the mammals of Madagascar to 

 those of Africa are not much closer than they are with other 

 zoological divisions of the earth. Strange to say we find none 

 of the larger mammals which are so numerous and character- 

 istic of Africa, on the island. Of the Hippopotami there 

 was evidently one species existing in Madagascar within the 

 past 100 or 150 years. The traditions of the people tell 



