Birds of Madagascar. 427 



of the island, and are all of peculiar genera. Of the curved- 

 beak species ( Vanga) M. Pollen observes that " it has a strong 

 whistling cry, which is heard at a long distance, but it is 

 melancholy and heart-touching. At intervals it utters a note 

 like tu-tu, which often comes from a bird just above the head, 

 and yet seems to proceed from some way off. If the sports- 

 man will only imitate the bird's cry, he will see it, impelled 

 by curiosity, descend from branch to branch until it comes 

 near enough to be shot. These Shrikes lead a solitary life, 

 each one having his own special hunting-ground in the forest. 

 If one of them whistles, all the others in the neighbourhood 

 instantly respond.'^ 



It has apparently not yet been ascertained whether these 

 Madagascar Butcher-birds have the habit, followed by their 

 relatives in other countries, of hanging up theii* prey of mice, 

 small birds, and insects on the thorns round their nest, from 

 which habit, indeed, the genus derives its English name. M. 

 Grandidier, however, says he was told that the male birds of 

 the curved-beak species sometimes eat their own young, 

 though their usual food consists of orthopterous insects. This 

 bird is called Vbrombengy , " Goat-bird,''^ by the forest tribes ; 

 and another species is termed Ktboala, " Forest-quail," 

 and Vbrombenda, "^ Rush-bird," as well as other names, the 

 meaning of which is obscure with our present knowledge of 

 provincial Malagasy. 



Most of these Shrikes are greenish blue in colour, with 

 white or grey on the breast and underparts of the body. 



Of the family of Paridse or Titmice, only one species in- 

 habits Madagascar — the Coral- billed Nuthatch, a small 

 tree-climbing bird, blue and brown in colour, which Dr. 

 Sharpe terms '' one of the most curious birds extant.'^ It 

 appears to connect the true Titmice and the Nuthatches, into 

 which two subfamilies the Paridse are divided. Nothing 

 further seems at present known of this little bird, nor does 

 its name of Sakbdy throw any light on its habits or pecu- 

 liarities. 



The family of Nectariniidse, or Sun-birds, contains three 

 species in Madagascar of these beautiful little songsters ; one 



