C. S. Webb—Collecting Waterfowl in Madagascar



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it was sufficient to cut the seed-pods in half as their bills are particularly

suited to digging out the seeds from their compartments. As these pods

quickly go rotten it was necessary to have the seeds scraped out and

dried for food on the voyage home.


All these waterfowl travel well in boxes with vertical wooden bars

in front, with the feeding tins outside, and with fine-mesh wire-netting

stretched across about 2 inches above the floor. This keeps the birds

perfectly dry, which they must be during transport or they quickly

go wrong in the legs.


It was found necessary to pad the tops of the boxes for the Pochards,

as before this was done a few dislocated their necks by flying up and

hitting the wood with their heads. I have never known any other Ducks

to do this and it was all the more remarkable because they were

perfectly tame and never made any attempt to escape.


Some other birds obtained in the vicinity of the lake were the

handsome Madagascar Partridge (Margaroperdix madagascariensis) , the

Button-Quail ( Turnix nigricollis) , Bee-eater [M crops superciliosus ),

Sovimangu Sunbird ( Cinnyris sovimanga), and the Madagascar White-

eye [Zosterops maderaspatanus) : most of these were plentiful in native

cultivations. There are many interesting species of birds in the forest

zone, but I was unable to bring home any of these, as I had no time to

go there and trap the birds myself, and the natives have no idea how

to trap arboreal birds. However, I will mention a few briefly. Some

of the prettiest birds are contained in the Coua family. They are

closely related to Cuckoos and Coucals but more closely resemble

Turacous in their bright plumage aud in their habits. There are many

varieties, nearly all of which are very beautiful.


The Vangas, whose nearest relatives are the Helmet-shrikes, are

represented by many genera and include one of the most striking birds

in Madagascar—the Blue Yanga ( Cyanolanius madagascarinus) . There

is another member of the Vangidse which is curious rather than

beautiful. It is known as the Helmet Bird [Aerocharis prevostii) and

has a large peculiarly shaped blue bill which contrasts with its black

and brown plumage.


Other beautiful birds inhabiting the forest are the Philepittas and

Ground Rollers which are Pitta-like birds.



