CONTENTS. 



CHAPTEE L 



NAMES, DISCOVERT, EARLY ACCOUNTS, AND MAPS OP MADAGASCAR. 



PAOa 



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 first references to it in English litera- 

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

 modern, and oar knowledge of its geography at the present time, 



CHAPTEE II 



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 



CHAPTEE III. 



THE ANIMAL LIFE OF MADAGASCAR 



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

 ' markable geological regions — Lemurs — Aye-aye — Insectivora — 

 Carnivora — Ungulata — Fossil hippopotamus — Rodentia — Remote 

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

 birds — Cardinal-birds — Sun-birds — JJpyornis 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-plated creature — Minute 

 and aquatic fauna — Origin and meaning of the specialised fauna 

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



CHAPTEE TV. 



NOTES ON THE VEGETABLE PRODUCTIONS OP MADAGASCAR. 



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

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



