268 Rev. J. Sibree^ Jr., on the 



which M. Pollen affirms to be the same as the Malagasy 

 word sambo (ship), and refers to their being seen, like ships, 

 far out at sea. I am, however, rather disposed to think that 

 the two words are not identical, but I have no other solu- 

 tion to offer. 



As will be seen by the tabular List (p. 272), about a dozen 

 Gulls and nine species of Petrel have been met with in the 

 seas surrounding Madagascar, but it is difficult to give their 

 exact number and names without a much more intimate 

 knowledge of the coast-line of the whole island than is yet 

 available to naturalists. The Dusky-headed Gull is found 

 not only on the coast, but far in the interior, as on the Lake 

 Alaotra in Antsihanaka and the River Mangoky. Another 

 Gull has been shot in the neighbourhood of Antananarivo. 

 The common name for the Gulls which visit Itasy is Hblo- 

 kbluka, descriptive, say some, of the peculiar cry they utter, 

 although it may be descriptive of their habits, as it means 

 " crafty, trickish, guileful." 



The last Order of birds, that of the Divers, will not detain 

 us even so long as the one just noticed, as it only contains 

 one species found in Madagascar. This is a form of Lesser 

 Grebe, or Dabchick, which appears to be almost identical 

 with the bird found over Europe, Africa, and part of Asia. 

 It is very common wherever there are pools or any piece 

 of fresh water, where it may be seen swimming, diving down 

 at any alarm, to reappear in a minute or two at a con- 

 siderable distance. It is known to the Malagasy by the 

 name of Vivy, which is probably imitative of its plaintive 

 little CYj. [Dendrocygna viduata is also known by this 

 name in the north-west of the island.) This Grebe is also 

 called Vorombbatcwo, i. e. *^ Gourd-bird,"^ but why I cannot 

 say. 



Our review of the birds indigenous to Madagascar, and 

 still to be found throughout its forests and plains and its 

 rivers and sea-coasts, is now completed ; but a few words 

 may be added as to two or three species of birds now extinct. 



