VIRGIN FOREST 89 



bare patch of red skin. The " coo " of the Comoro 

 fruit-pigeon is extraordinarily deep and resonant. 

 These pigeons were very tame, and took no notice 

 whatever of our presence. There is no doubt 

 that they are now extremely rare. 



A native guide told me that he had often seen 

 the black parrot* in this same forest-covered 

 peak, but unfortunately we did not come across 

 it. 



The Madagascar weaver bird was somewhat 

 abundant on the outskirts of the forest, and 

 the only other bird seen there was a thrushf of 

 about the size of our blackbird ; it has an orange- 

 coloured bill, but the plumage is greyish and the 

 crown of the head black. It is a very noisy bird, 

 its loud chattering call-note at once betrays its 

 presence. 



This patch of virgin forest extends from about 

 1000 feet above sea-level nearly to the summit 

 of the peak, and is composed of tall trees under 

 which dense masses of creepers and ferns grow in 

 luxuriance. Numerous streams of pure fresh water 

 intersect the narrow pathway through the forest, 

 and owing to this and to the deep shade given by 

 the trees, the air was quite refreshing, and in strik- 



* Two species of these parrots are found in the Comoros, Coracopai* 

 tomorensis and G. sibilans, though neither have apparently been 

 previously recorded from Mayotte. My informant gave me such 

 a clear description of a black parrot, however, that there is no doubt 

 that one of the above species is found on Mayotte. 



f Ixocincla madagascariensis. 



