562 Rev. J. Sibree, Jr., on the 



that was unusually large. I have been struck with the great 

 preponderance of males over females among those I have 

 shot. At Imantasoa I shot three, and two were cocks; in 

 1888 I shot twenty-one at Ankeramadinika, and sixteen were 

 cocks; and in 1889 I shot thirty-two, and twenty-six were 

 cocks. This may be owing to the cocks collecting together, 

 as is the habit of some birds." 



The Papelika or Quail found here seems to be identical 

 with the European species, and presents nothing calling for 

 special remark. It also is tolerably abundant, and some 

 native proverbs recognize some of its habits. It is called 

 Kibbmby, or "Ox-Quail,^' by the Betsileo, and Kibodblo, " Owl- 

 Quail,^^ or possibly " Spirit- Quail,^' by the Bara. About 

 this bird the Betsileo have a proverb which says that " The 

 Quail {Kibo) delays its proper work in the autumn, and leaves 

 it until the spring,^' and that then they know by its note 

 the proper time for planting rice {'' Miara-draha hay, koa 

 kibo asotry"). 



(3) One species of Sand-Grouse is met with in the sandy 

 plains of the western and southern parts of Madagascar, 

 where it is found in flocks of from twenty to thirty in num- 

 ber, but little appears to be known of its habits. Its name 

 of Gadragadra is probably from a word exactly similar 

 which means " harshness or roughness of voice," and thus is 

 descriptive of its cry ; and so also is another of its names, 

 Katakate. 



(4) The fifth and last bird of this Order found in Mada- 

 gascar, the Black-necked Bustard- Quail, is very common on 

 the plains, especially on and about a shrub called Fataka. 

 M. Pollen says that it is curious from the fact that the hen 

 birds give the name (Black-necked) to the species, and that 

 they are of different plumage and larger than the cock birds. 

 They go in companies of from six to twelve hen birds, always 

 led by a single cock, who is markedly smaller than his wives. 

 Their food consists of seeds and insects, especially of the 

 larvae of a species of white ant. These insects construct 

 large oval nests fixed to the extremities of the branches of 



