Birds of Madagascar. 227 



rently the same habit of reposing during the day as its relative, 

 for it seems only known by the name of Matoriandro, i. e., 

 ^^ Day-sleeper/^ in three or four dialects. Both birds are 

 beautifully mottled with various shades of brown, no doubt 

 a protective resemblance, corresponding with the colour of 

 their suiToundings. 



6. The last of the six families of this Suborder found in 

 Madagascar, viz. the Swifts, comprises three species of these 

 attractive and useful birds. These Swifts do not differ much 

 from those of Europe as regards their appearance. M. Pollen 

 says that they catch daily thousands of mosquitos, and that 

 he has observed them in considerable numbers perched on 

 the large-foliaged trees ^. Their flight is extremely rapid, 

 like that of an arrow from a bow ; and from this comes their 

 name of Sidintsldina, "The Flier," par excellence. (Or pos- 

 sibly the verb comes from the bird's name.) The Small Swift 

 [Cypselus parvus) has extremely long pointed wings and a 

 forked tail ; but Grandidier's Swift has a square tail. While 

 the Goatsuckers are known to the natives as nocturnal birds, 

 the Swifts, on the contrary, are recognized as diurnal in their 

 habits, and so are called Fitiliandro, '' Day-watchman ; " Vb- 

 ronandro, " Day-bird ; " and Manaviandro , " Day-Bat." 

 ' The third Swift {Collocalia francica) is nearly allied to the 

 Edible-nest-building Swiftlet of the East Indies. Its nest, 

 however, is not made chiefly of the glutinous secretion from 

 the bird's saliva, but largely of a species of grey lichen 

 ( Usnea) which grows abundantly on the trees, cemented 

 together with the gelatine from the bird's mouth. In Re- 

 union the nests are bought by the Chinese traders, but they 

 are much inferior to those of the East-Indian species. These 



* Mr. Cory remarks : " Swifts never settle on trees in England, hence 

 a great difference in habits. I have taken notes of the migration of the 

 Swifts, and give these herewith : 



" Westwards. Eastwards. 



1885, Jan. 12, large flights. Many going in this direc- 



1886, Feb. 15, do. tion, but only in small 



1888, Feb. 23, do. detached flights. 



1889, Jan. 30, do. 1887, Sept. and Oct. 



1889, August." 



