Birds of Madagascar. 267 



catch higli up into the air, in order to 'bolt' tliem head 

 foremost. The Cormorant is a regular ' gorger ' (hence 

 probably its name) and is easily shot, being seldom found 

 with a partially empty stomach. It is not difficult to rear it 

 in captivity, but it lives exclusively on fish/' 



As to the Gannet, M. Grandidier says that it is seen in 

 parties of from eight to ten birds, fishing together ; but it is 

 often attacked by the Lesser Frigate-bird and compelled to 

 disgorge its prey for the benefit of the more powerful bird. 

 These Gannets make their nests and rear their young in all 

 the smaller islands of the neighbouring seas. 



Although in the last-mentioned Order there are, as we 

 have seen, several species of oceanic birds, the tenth Order, 

 according to Dr. R. B. Sharpens classification, is that of Sea- 

 birds proper, and includes nearly a score of widely-spread 

 and powerfully-winged species belonging to the Terns, 

 the Noddies, the Gulls, and the Petrels. Of these little need 

 be here said, because, in the first place, not much has been 

 noted with respect to their habits ; and also because there 

 is little, if anything, in which they difi'er from the Sea-birds 

 which are found all over the world, and which have been 

 described in so many books of travel and natural history. 



The Roseate Tern is said to be very common on the islets 

 and shoals of Cargados in the Indian Ocean ; the Greater 

 Tern is found in great numbers in the smaller islands, as 

 Aldabra, Tromelin, Juan da Nova, aud others ; the Panayan 

 Tern appears to be very rare in Madagascar waters ; while 

 the Noddy is said to come by thousands to roost in tlie cliffs 

 and rocks of Reunion at certain seasons. j\lr. Cory informs 

 me that "^one of the Terns (grey, with a black head and 

 coral feet and bill) is very common in Imerina. There are 

 great numbers even in a pond close to Ambohimknga, where 

 I have shot them." It is also very common all round It<\sy, 

 a lake nearly in the centre of Madagascar (150 miles from 

 the sea), where it is known by the name of Kaonkaona, a 

 word which means a howl, yelp, or cry. All these birds are 

 known by the S^kalava under the general name of Sambc, 



