312 HERONS 



seen covering the rocks in great abundance on the seashore at 

 low water. It is a small oyster, but excellent in quality. 

 Another kind, called Tefaka, is only found at some depth below 

 water. It is a much larger oyster than the saja, with the 

 interior of the shell beautifully pearly. It is said to be delicious 

 in flavour. Quite recently an English company was projected 

 to exploit these oyster beds for pearls and for the pearly shells 

 themselves. 



Another sea-living creature in Madagascar waters is a species 

 of octopus called Horita, which, notwithstanding its repulsive 

 appearance, is reckoned a delicacy by the coast people, although 

 Europeans who have tried it pronounce it as tough and gluey 

 and uneatable, although cooked for a long time. 



The north-west coasts, from the numerous estuaries sur- 

 rounded with trees, are particularly favourable for such birds 

 as the herons, some species of which are regarded as sacred by 

 the natives, and are consequently less shy than these birds are 

 in Europe, while others are very wary and most difficult to 

 approach. In habits and feeding these Madagascar herons are 

 much like the European and African species, mostly living on 

 fish, molluscs and Crustacea, the larger ones devouring reptiles 

 and small birds and mammals, while the smaller kinds are 

 insectivorous. They are often found in companies, including 

 several different species, settled on the trees overhanging or 

 near water, and remaining perfectly motionless for a long time. 

 Some of the herons appear to be very common, as the ashy, the 

 black-necked, the purple, the white-winged, the garzetta, and 

 some others, and especially the small white egret, which we 

 have noticed more than once in these chapters. Fifteen species 

 of heron are found in Madagascar, three storks, a spoonbill, five 

 ibises and a flamingo. 



It was a pleasure to us during our week's stay at Mojanga to 

 meet with several old acquaintances among the Hova officers 

 stationed there ; anyone coming from their loved Imerina 

 always received a warm welcome. On the Saturday of the 

 week after our arrival there, the Packumba returned from 

 Africa, and on the following morning we left in her for Aden 

 and Europe. Steaming northwards, we kept in sight of the 

 mainland of Madagascar during the next day, and this appeared 

 bold and mountainous, and very different from the greater 



