Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 2, 1891.djvu/394

 338 become extinct, either from changes of climate, or from the introduction of other and more powerful forms, better fitted to hold their own in the struggle for existence, here, in this great island, on the contrary, freed from the incursion of other creatures, they have maintained their ground, and thus are still living witnesses to a very antique fauna, extinct everywhere else. And so it comes to pass that many Malagasy birds stand alone, isolated from all other living forms, and have thus been a puzzle to naturalists, being extremely difficult to class, so that in some cases a special family has had to be formed for their reception. It is not that the Madagascar birds are remarkably beautiful or large, or striking in appearance—although there are plenty of beautiful forms among them—it is the remote affinities of many of them which gives such an interest to the avi-fauna of the island.

I.—There are twenty-two species of in Madagascar, the majority being various kinds of hawks, kites, and buzzards, but including several owls and two eagles.

The most common bird of this order is the Papàngo, or Egyptian Kite (Milvus Ægypticus), a large bird of almost world-wide distribution, and found all over the island. It is the dread and detestation of the country-dwelling Malagasy, for it swoops down upon their chickens and pigeons and is only scared away by their loud cries and execrations. From these habits comes one of its provincial names, Tsimalàho, i.e., " The-one-who-does-not-ask", but takes without saying "By your leave". Several Malagasy proverbs refer to the Papango, e.g., to its rapacity and boldness, in the following: "Acting like a kite's claws: not taking gently, but greedily"; and "The wild-cat is weary, for the fowl (it was seeking) is carried off by the kite". Occasionally it seems that it catches more than it can eat, for another proverb says: "The kite that caught a tortoise: it certainly got it, but it did not get much after all." And its occasional food of locusts is mentioned in this: "Not (like) a little