Dr. G. Hartlaub on the Ornithology of Madagascar. 395 



viridis and superciliosus are stated by several zoologists, Ruppell 

 for instance, to inhabit the African continent ; but whether cor- 

 rectly, tliat is, whether continental specimens were recognized as 

 identical after a close comparison with those of Madagascar, is 

 somewhat questionable. The number of species which inhabit 

 both Madagascar and the Mascarene islands, is, so far as we know, 

 only small. As such may perhaps be mentioned, Tinnunculus 

 punctatus, Fregilupus capensis, Zosterops borbonicus, Saxicola 

 sibylia, Muscipeta borbonica, Ploceus madagascariensis, Psittacula 

 cana, Columba picturata, Alectrcenas francice, Francolinus mada- 

 gascariensisj Numenius madagascariemis, Platalea Telfairi, and 

 Rallus Cuvieri. Of birds more widely extended in the Old World, 

 whose occurrence in Madagascar is asserted by single witnesses, 

 but is not yet sufficiently demonstrated, there are, Strix flammea, 

 Cuculus canorus, Ardea alba and garzetta, Fulica chloropus and 

 cristata, Phcenicopierus antiquorum, Podiceps minor, and Larus 

 ridibundus (??). 



The affinity assumed by I. Geoffroy St. Hilaire and others,, 

 between the Madagascar and the Indo-Australian fauna, is espe- 

 cially confirmed by the fact that the genus Artamia [Artamus) is 

 represented in that island by several remarkably-coloured species ; 

 as well as by the common occurrence of certain species in India 

 and Madagascar, provided always that the statements to that 

 effect be established. We found Strix manadensis under that 

 name in the Paris Museum, but with an attached label " Mada- 

 gasc. Bemier" (1840). Whether Ithaginis madagascariensis, a 

 bird widely diffused in India, really occurs in that island also, 

 remains altogether undetermined. We may add also, that Gray 

 includes the Merula madagascariensis of Brisson (we know not 

 whether from his own observation) as a second species of Hodg- 

 son^ s genus >S«ro^Zos5« [more properly Psaroglossa ; — Transl.], 

 whose type is the well-known Lamprotornis spilopterus, Vig., from 

 the Himalaya. It is earnestly to be wished that future naturalist- 

 travellers would pay especial attention to the great Struthious 

 bird Vouron-patra, mentioned by Flacourt, the rediscovery of 

 which, in connexion with the fact that Bourbon, Mauritius, and 

 Rodriguez had each their own species of Didus, would be of the 

 highest geographico-zoological interest. Flacourt's account bears 

 no mark of the fabulous about it, and certainly deserves all pos- 

 sible attention. 



The geographico-zoological results of our superficial knowledge 

 of the birds of Madagascar may be summed up in the following- 

 propositions : — 



1. The ornithological fauna of Madagascar is indeed rich in 

 peculiar genera and species which do not occur elsewhere, yet 



