Birds of Madagascar. 265 



experiences some difficulty in the laying of her eggs, which 

 are very large in proportion to the size of her body. Indeed, 

 the passage of the egg is said to make the bird faint and 

 become unconscious [tbrana). If found just at this time she 

 may be taken off her nest with the hand. On account of 

 this peculiarity this bird is fady, or tabooed, by all native 

 women, who think that they would experience a similar diffi- 

 culty in child-birth were they to eat the bird." 



Mr. Mackay also says : "The Tafiotra lays the largest egg 

 of any fowl on the Alaotra. It is generally known as the 

 Adaladala {' Foolish one '), as it does not fly away until one 

 is very near it, and it is consequently very easily shot. They 

 are generally fat and pluni]) and very good eating (our own 

 experience). General report says that it is tor ana (faint) 

 when laying its eggs. One man, however, denied this to me 

 with some vehemence.^' 



The three families of the ninth Order of birds, including 

 the Frigate-birds, Tropic-birds, and Pelicans proper, are all 

 represented in Madagascar, although, the first two of these 

 being oceanic birds, it might be more correct to say around 

 the great island. 



Little seems to have been observed in Madagascar of the 

 two species of Tropic-bird. In habits and appearance they 

 probably do not diff'er from the other species of this widely- 

 spread oceanic bird. No native name, so far as at present 

 known, has been given either to them or to the Frigate-bird. 



The third family of this Order includes one Pelican, one 

 Darter, one Cormorant, and a Gannet. 



The African Cormorant is frequently seen on the rivers of 

 the west coast, perched on the dead branches of the trees on 

 the river banks. Here it watches the surface of the water, 

 darting down like an arrow on any fish that may appear. It 

 is not at all shy, and so can easily be appi'oached near enough 

 to be shot. But it is quite different when the bird is on the 

 water, for it swims and dives rapidly, remaining a long time 

 under the surface. The Sakalava give this bird the name of 

 Renivoay, i.e. "Mother (or (juardiau)-of-Crocodiies," for 



