320 
MADAGASCAR. 
only fifty-nine species,—a very small number for 
such a large island; and of these it is supposed 
that twenty-eight, or nearly two-thirds, belong 
to the lemuridse. All these animals, it may be 
remarked, are allied to the Asiatic rather than 
African forms,—a fact which strengthens the 
theory that this and the whole of the Masacarene 
islands were originally connected in some way 
with Asia, probably by the extension of the 
Indian peninsula. All the animals found in the 
island are small, with the exception of the ox, 
which has a hump between the shoulders, a 
species of wild boar, and the goats and sheep. 
There are several species of bats: one the dreaded 
vampire, much feared by the natives, is found in 
the north; and there are many varieties of the 
parrot, owl, and smaller birds, but the eagle and 
the vulture are unrepresented. Our knowledge, 
however, of much of the country, and of some of 
the most important forests, is at present super¬ 
ficial, and probably more complete research will 
reveal many new features of animal life. The 
insects obtained from time to time by travellers 
are of great interest to the entomologist; and 
some rare and valuable specimens of butterflies 
have been secured and sent to Europe from the 
central provinces. There is a useful silk-worm 
moth, from which the natives procure their sup¬ 
plies of silk for weaving the lamba or State 
