CURIOUS CRABS 35 



often see these egrets perched on the back of the oxen and thus 

 clearing them from their enemies. Wherever the animals were 

 feeding, these birds might be seen in numbers proportionate to 

 those of the cattle. This egret has the purest white plumage, 

 with a pale yellow plume or crest, and is a most elegant and 

 graceful bird. 



The oxen of Madagascar have very long horns, and a large 

 hump between the shoulders. In other respects their appear- 

 ance does not differ from the European kinds, and the quality 

 and flavour of the flesh is not much inferior to English beef. 

 The hump, which consists of a marrow-like fat, is considered 

 a great delicacy by the Malagasy, and when salted and eaten 

 cold is a very acceptable dish. When the animal is in poor 

 condition the hump is much diminished in size, being, like that 

 of the camel in similar circumstances, apparently absorbed into 

 the system. It then droops partly over the shoulders. These 

 Malagasy oxen have doubtless been brought at a rather remote 

 period from Africa ; their native name, bmby, is practically the 

 same as the Swahili ngombe. 



We reached Tranomaro (" many houses ") at half-past nine, 

 and there breakfasted. My bearers proved to be a set of most 

 merry, good-tempered, willing fellows. As soon as they got 

 near the halting-places they would set off at a quick run, and 

 with shouts and cries carry me into the village in grand style, 

 making quite a commotion in the place. Leaving again at noon, 

 in a few minutes we came down to the sea, the path being close 

 to the waves which were rolling in from the broad expanse of the 

 Indian Ocean. I was amused by the hundreds of little red crabs, 

 about three inches long, taking their morning bath or watching 

 at the mouth of their holes, down which they dived instantane- 

 ously at our approach. One or more species of the Madagascar 

 crabs has one of its pincers enormously enlarged, so that it is 

 about the same size as the ' carapace, while the other claw is 

 quite rudimentary. This great arm the little creature carries 

 held up in a ludicrous, threatening manner, as if defying all 

 enemies. I was disappointed in not seeing shells of any size 

 or beauty on the sands. The only ones I then observed 

 which differed from those found on our own shores were a 

 small bivalve of a bluish-purple hue, and an almost trans- 

 parent whorled shell, resembling the volute of an Ionic 



