FLORA AND FAUNA 
57 
after insects on the grass plots. It is one of the most 
beautiful creatures of the island, with the shining rings of 
gold and silver that enclose its abdomen. Gasteracantha 
mada^ascarieiisis is a characteristic form in the woodlands. 
o 
Latrodectiis inenavody^ a species of depressed shape, its 
abdomen black with blood-red spots, lives under stones. 
The Malagasy fear it as being poisonous, but I have 
always found this spider quite harmless. 
Gally-worms {lulus corallmus') and mordacious centi¬ 
pedes are frequent, and also a gigantic woodlouse, 
Zeph 7 ^onia hippocasta^teuin^ which rolls itself into a ball 
on the approach of danger. 
The standing waters are not poor in Crustacea; small 
water-fleas and sand-hoppers can be caught in shoals. 
These have yet to be more closed investigated. A mag¬ 
nificent crayfish {Astaczis i^tadagascariensis') lives in the 
waters of Central Madagascar. 
The Mollusca are by no means poor in species. In 
the brackish pools live species of potamidse which are 
relished by the natives; black melaniae and ampullariae 
inhabit the brooks and rivers, while in the interior marsh 
univalves {Limncsa Jiovarmn and electa) are not wanting. 
The family of land-snails contains large slugs, gigantic 
cyclostomes, and some peculiar species of helix {H. Cor- 
nu-giganteuni^ H. Cozva 7 tu^ H. betsileozie isis). Agatlima is 
quite common near the coast, especially on the screw palm. 
In conclusion we must bestow a few words on the 
Annelida. In damp places on the coast there live under 
stones numerous land nemertines, sometimes splendidly 
coloured, which have obviously adapted themselves to a 
terrestrial life straight from their marine habitat, without 
an intermediate life in fresh water. In the forest their 
are numbers of black terrestrial leeches an inch in length, 
which molest human beings, and on every excursion I 
was able to collect a great number upon my bearers, in 
the act of biting their way into the skin. 
