CONTENTS. 



CHAPTEE I. 



NAilES, DISCOVERY, EARLY ACCOUNTS, AND MAPS OP MADAGASCAR. 



PAQB 



The names by which the country was known to the Ancients and to 

 Mediaeval writers — Its discovery by Europeans — Accounts given 

 of it by early voyagers, and iirst references to it in English litera- 

 ture, together with notices of the maps of the island, ancient and 

 modern, and our knowledge of its geography at the present time, 1-2 1 



CHAPTER IL 



THE PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY OP MADAGASCAR. 



Elevated granitic region— Scenery — Rivers and lakes — Lower region 

 and maritime plains — Mountains — Belt of forest — Volcanic dis- 

 turbances — Geology of the chief divisions — Secondary fossils — 

 Recently extinct fauna— Lignite formation — Coral reefs — Metals 

 and minerals — Fertility of soil, ..... 22-37 



CHAPTER III. 



THE ANIMAL LIFE OP MADAGASCAR. 



Peculiar and specialised character of the fauna — One of the most re- 

 markable geological regions — Lemurs — Aye-aye — Lisectivora — 

 Carnivora — Ungulata — Fossil hippopotamus — Rodentia — Remote 

 affinities of the Avi-fauna — Raptores — Water-birds — Perching 

 birds — Cardinal-birds — Sun-birds — iEpyornis and its enormous 

 egg — Reptiles — Scarcity of venomous serpents — Lizards — Gigantic 

 tortoises — Crocodiles — Fishes — Insects — Butterflies — Beetles — 

 Wasps— Fireflies — Mantis — Ants — Locusts — Mosquitoes — Spiders 

 — Scorpions and centipedes — An armour-jilated creature — Minute 

 and aquatic fauna — Origin and meaning of the specialised fauna 

 of Madagascar — Opinions of eminent naturalists, . . . 38-68 



CHAPTER IV. 



NOTES ON THE VEGETABLE PRODUCTIONS OP MADAGASCAR. 



Forest scenery— Valuable woods— Coast vegetation— Pandanus—Tan- 

 gdna poison-tree— Palms— Bark cloth— Bamboos : their applica- 



