RAPACIOUS BIRDS 83 



hundred and twenty-four species, which are all peculiar to the 

 island. 



The rapacious birds of the country comprise twenty-two 

 species, the majority being hawks, kites and buzzards, with 

 several owls and two eagles. The most common bird of this 

 order is the Papdngo or Egyptian kite, a large hawk found all 

 over the island. It may be seen every day flying gracefully 

 along in search of lizards and snakes, and the mice, rats and 

 small birds which form its chief food, and continually swooping 

 down upon its prey. When the long dry grass is being burned 

 on the downs the papango may be noticed sweeping backwards 

 and forwards close to the edge of the blazing grass, so as to pick 

 up the smaller creatures escaping the advancing flames, or those 

 which have been overtaken by them and killed. I have 

 occasionally observed hundreds of these birds in the neighbour- 

 hood of Ambohimanga, describing great circles, at an immense 

 height, and have wondered how such large numbers could 

 obtain food. This kite is the dread of the country-dwelling 

 Malagasy, for it swoops down on their chickens and is only 

 scared away by their loud cries and execrations. From these 

 habits comes one of its provincial names, Tsimaldho i.e. " the 

 one who does not ask," but takes without saying " by your 

 leave." It is constantly seen in .company with the white- 

 necked crows, and, like them, feeds near the villages, especially 

 near where the oxen are killed. 



Another very widely spread rapacious bird is the little lively 

 and noisy HitsiJdtsika or kestrel, which is found hi or about 

 every village, often perched on the gable " horns " of the 

 houses, or even on the extreme point of the lightning conductors. 

 It is by no means shy, and one can sometimes approach it quite 

 closely and see its bright fearless eyes, before it darts away. It 

 is fond of the same resting-place and, after a noisy chatter with 

 its mate, takes a sweeping flight for a few hundred yards and 

 returns to its former condition. Several native proverbs refer 

 to the kestrel's quick restless flight and its frequent habit of 

 hovering aloft, poised almost motionless, or with an occasional 

 quivering of the wings, which, in Malagasy idiom, is called 

 " dancing," for the native dances consist as much in a graceful 

 motion of the hands as in that of the feet. Among some tribes, 

 or families, the kestrel is a tabooed bird and it is crime to kill it. 



