C. S. Webb—Collecting Waterfowl in Madagascar



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when the others are tiring. The first four then “ rest ” by walking

close behind until their turn comes again.


As the main object of my visit to Madagascar was to collect water-

fowl, I made my way from the port of Tamatave to Lake Alaotra.

This journey is full of interest, especially when the forest region is

reached, as here the line passes through some magnificent scenery and

many of the trees are adorned with beautiful Angraecum orchids in

flower. On passing the forest, a large, almost treeless plateau is reached

in which Lake Alaotra is situated. The lake is some 25 miles long

and is bordered on three sides by hills of indescribable beauty. The

views of the lake from these hills are no less magnificent.


For the greater part the water is very shallow except in the rainy

season, and there is a very large area of reeds and swamps. Among

the reeds there are masses of beautiful blue water lilies, and a white

variety, which extend for miles. This enormous belt of aquatic vegeta¬

tion is the home of many birds such as Porphyrios and the pretty little

Allen’s Porphyrio ( Porphyrula alleni) which is plentiful, and several

varieties of Crakes and Pails. Of these perhaps Cuvier’s Pail is the

most interesting on account of its curious shape. All these reed-dwelling

birds are very difficult to get even a glimpse of unless one sits quietly

in a canoe for a long time and even then more often than not one has

to be content with hearing their call-notes.


At dusk hundreds of the tiny Hottentot Teal ( Anas punctata)

come in from the open water to where it is very shallow and to swampy

places on the edge of the lake to search for food. Fulvous and Whistling

Tree Ducks are also very much in evidence at nightfall, wheeling round

in large numbers over the shallow water prior to settling. They can

also be heard at night making their way to the neighbouring rice-fields.

Pygmy Geese ( Nettapus auritus), the smallest and prettiest of Madagascar

waterfowl, usually remain in the areas where water-lilies are most

plentiful, as the seeds of these plants form their chief article of diet.

They are usually in pairs.


The curious White-backed Ducks ( Thalassomis leuconotus ) are to

be found mainly on the west side of the lake where the aquatic vegeta¬

tion is several miles deep, and they seem to avoid the open water as

much as possible. They nearly always prefer to dive when disturbed



