The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-07-17

ouliar to this island, which are called ten
draks by the natives, and seem closely al
lied to our hedgehogs. Like these, they
are covered with spines, but the teeth DIFF
fer, and the tail is wanting neither do
they roll themselves into a ball, but hide
the head between their paws when fright
ened. Seven or eight species have been
discovered, with some variety in the spines,
some being soft, and not covering tho
whole of the body. They are all noctur-
nal in their habits, and very good when
cooked. As for the carniyora, they all
belong to very small type. The wild cat
is a pretty creature. It's back is fawn.
colored, trayersed by four stripes Of red
dish brown, and yellowish white under the
body and the paws. The ichneumon, with
its long thin body and shaded skin, also
gains the admiration of the traveller; it is
fearful enemy to all small or weak ami
mails, but one Of the species feeds greedily
on honey. Not the least curious is the
cryptoproctus, of the size and appearance
Of cat but with feet formed like those
Of bear, the entire sole resting on the
ground. No other example Of a planti-
grade animal is known.
The masked wild boar, which is still
more ugly than its European fellow, is the
only mammifer met with both in Mada-
gascar and Africa. 1t is hideous crea-
ture, with high withers, low back, and
little hair. 1t boasts of an enormous
tubercle, supported by bony prominence
in the jaw, which renders the face Of the
animal extremely disagreeable. Aspecies
of gray squirrel, which live in hollow trees,
aud bats, complete the list Of the mammi-
fers yet known in Madagascar.
1t is very different as regards birds
they can cross immense spaces; and so the
tern, the petrol, the albatross, and many
other well-know birds, abound in this is.
land. II is a charming sight, on sunny
day, to see flights Of ducks with brilliant
and varied plumage padding and diving on
the rivers or lakes. One large species
with bronze aud violet reflections, like
metals, its white head and neck spotted
with black, is great favorite with the
natives, A beautiful teal duck, only
known here, has an exquisite blending Of
brown, fawn, and slate-colored plumage
with fair white wings. In the marshes
stalks the proud Sultana hen, with its mag.
nifcent blue body, red patch on its head
and coral feet adorned with tuft of white
feathers, by which it is easily distinguished
among the reeds. The jacana, bird Of
the watcr-hen family, is also peculiar to
this place; mounted on long legs like stills,
and extremely long feet, it runs through
the long grass, or upon the floating water.
leaves, with wonderful rapidity. \
The sacred ibis of the Egyptians is
found in large aocks, as well as the green
variety of Europe. The crested ibis i
peculiar to the country; beautiful bird
bright red, with yellow baak and claws; q
green head, from which the long plume Of
white and green feathers lies back. An.
other bird, classed among the Gallinace@,
is remarkable for the length Of its beak
whilst the pretty blue and green pigeons
afford plenty Of sport for the lover of the
gun. Near the streams, the nelicourvi, a
green-plumaged bird, builds its nest among
the leaves, composed of bits Of straw and
reeds artistically woven together. The
magnificent cardinal, in its bright scarlet
robe of feathers, black-spotted on the back,
haunts the open glades of the forest; and
on the banks Of streams are numbers Of
hnnets, wagtails, and humming-birds,
which are almost as small and graceful as
the American ones, in addition to possess
ing oil their beauties. The one which is
the most common is also the most beauti-
ful, with its bright green body shaded
with violet; the large feather Of the wings,
brown edged with green, violet band on
the breast, succeeded by one of brown
and yellow beneath. The family of the
cuckoos is swell represented; the blue variety
is magnificent bird, common in the woods
on the shore.
As for the Reptile class, II is pleasant
for the traveller to walk through the for.
ests knowing that the venomous species are
unknown. Two hundred years ago, the
old traveller, Flacourt, declared that the
serpents were all inoffensiye; recent expert
ence confirms the fact The largest
is named Petophils Madagascariensiis.
There are others, such as the Lanqaha
nasnta and Christa;galli (zoologists having
retained the name they bear among the
natives,) which are very singular, from the
prolonged form of the snout, arising from
the skin being heightened out. Beauti-
full lizards, covered with brilliant scales Of
olive or fawn, spotted with black, white,
and yellow, hide themselves under the
stones, in the moss, or in old trees. But
Madagascar is especially the land Of cham
eleons in the heart of the forests, they
may be seen crouched on the branches,
calm and immoyable, rolling their large
eyes. TIE crocodile is the only creature
to be feared, and accidents from it are
very rare, as the inhabitants greatly object
to yenturing into water.
The insects of Madagascar offer a thou
sand types for admiration. There are
valuable kinds, furnishing wax, honey,
anI atlE Az Ga A.. .