HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
41 
Besides the birds which appear to be natives of the 
island, peacocks, turkeys, geese, and ducks, with an ini” 
proved kind of fowl, have been introduced; and the latter 
are reared in such abundance, that numbers of them are at 
times sent to the Isle of France for sale. There are several 
kinds of pigeons in the island, and the turtle-dove, called 
domohina , is found in the woods. Birds of the eagle or 
falcon tribe are met with in the less frequented parts of 
the island; crows, hawks, and kites are also seen. The 
screech-owl is called by the natives vorondolo, or, bird 
of death ; lolo is the name of a disease, and, when used 
figuratively, signifies malice. Some writers have stated 
that the beautiful flamingo, called by the natives tamby, is 
found in Madagascar; but no one of the species has been 
seen by any late resident in the island. There is a large- 
beaked bird inhabiting the desert, called sama, but the 
description given of this bird does not answer to that of the 
splendid flamingo. Wild ducks and geese, and other water- 
fowl, abound in the neighbourhood of the lakes and rivers; 
snipes are also met with. 
Though the woods and forests are peopled with several 
varieties of paroquets, and other tribes of splendid and 
beautiful plumage, but few of melody in song enliven the 
places of their resort. A bird of the ostrich kind is said to 
frequent the most desert places of the island. If a bird of 
this species exist in the country, the story of the ambas¬ 
sadors, to which Marco Paulo refers, may not be totally 
void of foundation.* 
* The people of the island report, that at a certain season of the year 
an extraordinary kind of bird, which they call rukh, makes its appearance 
from the southern regions. In form, it is said to resemble the eagle, but is 
incomparably greater in size, being so large and strong as to seize an ele¬ 
phant, and to lift it into the air, from whence it lets it fall to the ground, 
