68 Viscount Walden on Lanius melanthes, Swinhoe, 



shrubs and " nopals " are to be perceived. Further to the north 

 the prospect is not altered, and the plateau remains as uniform, 

 without the smallest hillock. On this plateau I have not seen 

 any fragment of the eggs of JEpyornis. 



The chain of mountains which run along the coast appears to 

 be all granitic. The strong currents which set round this coast 

 and wash the foot of these mountains, tend daily to restrict 

 the island on this side. Under the protection of this chain, to 

 the south of the central mass and of the secondary formations, 

 thoroughly characterized by a large species of Nerincea, of Tro- 

 choid form, whose existence I have recognized in latitude 

 23° 30' S., and longitude 42° 40' E., corals probably grow, as 

 they do at the present time on the south-west coast, and they 

 have formed the base on which is raised the recent formation I 

 have just mentioned. 



The daily extension of the west coast is perceptible ; the pre- 

 sence of two salt lakes, situated about ten leagues from the 

 coast, from which they are only separated by a plain of sand, 

 and where are found the same fish as in the sea, the immense 

 arid delta which exists between the Kitoumbou and the Man- 

 oumbe, the little depth which exists for many miles from the 

 shore, the daily development of the coral-banks — all demon- 

 strate the enlargement of the western region of Madagascar. 



Thus, while admitting the actual non-existence of the ^py- 

 ornis, one is obliged to allow that this gigantic bird has lived at 

 an epoch not far distant, seeing that its remains are found in 

 the most modern formations, the continual development of 

 which one still traces at the present day. It may perhaps have 

 existed even at the commencement of our era ; but when the 

 country became peopled, it was quickly exterminated, as has been 

 the case with the Moa {Dinornis gigantea) &c. of New Zealand. 

 9 September, 1867. 



VI. — Note on Lauius melanthes, Swinhoe, and on Lanius cepha- 

 lomelas, Bp. By Viscount Walden. 



The rediscovery in China of the dark and peculiarly coloured 

 Shrike to which Mr. Swinhoe (Ibis, 1867, p. 405) has given the 



