MADAGASCAR 
^0 
orange red above and white beneath, has hitherto only 
been seen in the moist ravines of the eastern side. 
Along the rivers the noisy bee-eater [Merops supercilios^is) 
poises itself in the air; it is called ziri-ziri by the Malagasy, 
from its cry. 
The honey-eaters [Nectarinia So^limanga and N. 
notatd) resembling our creepers, climb about among the 
trees; their plumage shines with a metallic lustre. 
Larger and smaller singing birds appear in numerous 
genera, chiefly endemic. The white-breasted crow (Co'rviis 
scapulatus) is among the denizens of the coast villages, 
as it is in Africa; Etuyceros Prevostii is black with a rusty 
red back. The Ourouvang [Hypsipetes ourotivang^^ of 
the size of a blackbird, hops among the underwood, as 
well as the melancholy Dicrurus fo 7 ^ficatus. The gregari¬ 
ous fly-catchers {Terpsiphone 7 nutatci) present a very 
pleasing appearance. The bird is of the size of a 
finch; it is of a shiny black with long white feathers in 
the tail. 
Thrushes, weaver-birds [Plocens pe^isilis and P. inad- 
agascariensis)^ finches and larks [Alauda hova) are often 
seen in the interior. 
A beautiful green dove {Vinago australis) with blue 
eyes is frequently met with. It is difficult to detect 
among the bamboo groves because its plumage har¬ 
monises so exactly with the soft green of the bamboo 
leaves. 
Funmgus madagascarmisis is black with dark-red tail. 
It is a solitary bird, living in the primeval forest. 
The gallinacem are not largely represented. In the 
native market we sometimes get partridges {Margaro- 
perdix striata) the male of which is spotted with white, 
and pretty quails {Turnix nigricollis). 
The numerous moors, swamps and pools in the coast 
belt harbour many species of‘marsh fowl and waterfowl. 
The pretty sultana {Porphyria smaragnotus)^ with its sea- 
