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



also meetj although more rarely, with Parrakeets, Pere- 

 grine Falcons, Bee-eaters, Sandpipers, Plovers, Warblers, 

 Flycatchers, Quails, and Partridges. Bustard-Quails and 

 various Waders are likewise met with on the banks of the 

 lakes and along the rivers; also Rails, Snipes, and Gulls. 



" The two coast regions are, on the contrary, well peopled 

 with birds of all sorts, and while the greater part of these 

 inhabit indifferently one or the other, it is no less true that 

 there are a certain number which have their habitat almost 

 exclusively in one region only, and which give it its special 

 characteristics. There are also some which keep to a still 

 more limited area, not going beyond a very restricted range. 

 At the present time 50 species are known which are peculiar 

 to the Eastern Region and to the almost identical district of 

 the North-west, and 23 species peculiar to the Western 

 Region. We consider as ' peculiar to a region ' the species 

 which, so far, have only been found in that region, or which, 

 while very common to one, are only seen very exceptionally 

 in the other. No doubt in the future numerous modifications 

 will have to be made in these numbers, but meanwhile the 

 special characters of the two avifaunas are not the less sharply 

 defined. 



" It is interesting to note that a certain number of species, 

 which are of sedentary habits, undergo certain modifications 

 under the influence of the physical conditions with which 

 they are surrounded ; in fact, as we have already said, the 

 biological conditions are very different in the two regions of 

 the East and North-west on one hand, and of the West and 

 South on the other hand. These differences manifest them- 

 selves in the birds of the West in diminished size, and in a 

 tendency to albinism and a general paler colouring. 



'' Even the eggs of certain of these birds have a lighter and 

 less vivid colour, and are a little smaller, than those of their 

 eastern relations " *. 



* These paragraphs are translated from M. Grandidier'a 'Histoire 

 Naturelle des Oiseaux ; ' and the preceding paragraphs as to the lists of 

 Malagasy birds are also condensed from the same work. 



I will add in this note what M. Grandidier says further as to the special 



