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Page 79
“...also condensed
from the same work. r
I will add in this note what M. Grandidier says further as to the special character of the
Madagascar Avi-fauna. He remarks that it includes 35 genera and 129 spccics which are
all peculiar to the island, and are distributed among 54 families. The 35 peculiar genera,
most of which possess great interest from an ornithological point of new, are : (1) Coracopsis
among the Parrots ; (2) Futriorc/ris, a Harrier-Eagle ; (3) Heliodilus, an abnormal Barn-
Owl; (4) Coua, Lark-heeled Cuckoos; (5) Lcptosomus and (6) Brachypteracias, which
connect the Rollers and the Bee-eaters ; (7) Ncodrepanis, a Sun-bird ; (8) Philc.pitta,
Paradise-birds ; (9) Falciilia, an aberrant form of Starling; (10) Ilartlavbia, between the
Starlings and the Thrushes; (11) Iiypositta, a Nuthatch; (12) Eroessti, (13) Ellisia, (14)
Di oitHvoccrciis, and (15) M-ystucornis, all spccies of Warblers ; (16) T/uiitinor/ux, a Tailor-bird ;
(17) Bcmiera, (is) Oxylabcs, and (19) Crosslcyiit, species...”
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Page 88
“...being confined to
one district, out of which they are never found ; and those which live in
the damp forests on the eastern side of the island are very distinct from
those which inhabit the dry and sandy plains on the western side. This
is shown clearly in a map which M. Grandidier gives of the distribution
of the various species. These differ from each other not only in colouring,
but also in the proportions of the different parts of their bodies—wings,
tail, beak, legs, etc.
Five species of Coua* inhabit the large forests, or at least the wooded
regions, where they are found jumping from branch to branch in search
of their food, which consists of insects and especially of land molluscs.
In their stomachs there is usually found a fetid gelatinous mass of matter,
* C. Reynaudii, C, crista/a, C. fiyrrofiygaia, C. Verrcauxii, and C. ca~ulca....”
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Page 89
“...slender than those of the climbers, trail on the ground and
are therefore always much worn.
The Crested Coua is the only species of the genus which is found all
over Madagascar, at least wherever there are woods. It has a variety of
names, one of which, Tivdtse, says M. Grandidier, means 'Crested,' or
'Tufted,' and refers to its appearance; while others, as Ambosanga,
'That-which-climbs,' and Antisdma, 'That-which-loves-to-play,' refer to
its habits.
The Blue Coua is very common on the east and north-west coasts. A
wounded one was seen to use its beak like a parrot in climbing trees.
Its cry is said to resemble the words Martha and Teso, which are two of
its provincial names.
Verreaux's Coua is very rare, being only found at the extreme southerly
point of the island. Serres's Coua is also rare, and is only met with on
parts of the north-east coast; and so also with Delalande's Coua ; this bird
goes from rock to rock seeking the large land-shells which form its prin-
cipal food. These...”
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Page 95
“...Family II.—Cuculidje-. Cuckoos.
Cnculns poliocephahts,
var. ROCHII (Hartl.)
Centropus MADAGAS-
CARIKNSIS (Brisson)
or TOLOU
COUA RUVNAUDII
(Puch.)
COU A CRIST ATA (typica)
(L.)
Grey-headed Cuc-
koo
Madagascar Lark-
heeled Cuckoo
Raynaud's Coua-
Cuckoo
Crested Coua-Cuc-
koo (type)
Tawny - ruinped
Crested Coua-
Cuckoo
Verreaux's Coua-
Cuekoo
Blue Coua-Cuckoo
Serrcs' Coua-Cuc-
koo
Delalaude's Coua- COUA DelALANDF.I
Kankafotra (Bs.,
T„ Ba., N.B.)
Toloho; so also
in almost all the
dialects.
var.
(Alf.
Coua cristata
pyrropygaia
Grandid.)
coua Verreauxii
(Grand.)
COUA CERULEA (L.)
coua serriana
(Puch.)
(Temni.)
COUA GIGAS (Boddaert)
Coua ruficeps (tj-pi-
cus) (Grey)
Coua ruficeps, var.
olivaceiceps(Sharpe)
Cuckoo
Giant Coua-Cuc-
koo
Red-capped Coua
Cuckoo (type)
Olivc-cappecl
Coua.Cuckoo
Running Coua-'COUA CURSOR (Grand.)
Cuckoo
Coquerel's Coua-'COUA* CoQUERELIl
Cuckoo ] (Grand.)
Taotaonkafa (^V.51.), Botokon-
kona (Anth.)
Abilimborona (W.Co.), Mitsoly
(Ba.), Monjo (N...”
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