Identifier: threevoyagesofna00nico (find matches)
Title: Three voyages of a naturalist : being an account of many little-known islands in three oceans visited by the "Valhalla" R.Y.S.
Year: 1908 (1900s)
Authors: Nicoll, M. J. (Michael John), 1880-1925 Crawford, James Ludovic Lindsay, Earl of, 1847-1913
Subjects: Valhalla (Yacht) Scientific expeditions Voyages and travels Voyages around the world Birds West Indies -- Discovery and exploration
Publisher: London : Witherby & Co.
Contributing Library: The LuEsther T Mertz Library, the New York Botanical Garden
Digitizing Sponsor: The LuEsther T Mertz Library, the New York Botanical Garden

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
using the long claw on their wings as well as their feet, and hanging head down-wards. In the depth of the forest we came on a small party of lemurs,* which were feeding on the fruit of a densely foliaged tree. I shot one for identification, but was unwilling to sacrifice more of these charming little creatures, which showed not the slightest fear, but merely looked down at us with their great black eyes, and uttered continually their characteristic grunting noise. While walking quietly along under the trees on the look-out for pigeons I surprised a family party of tenrecs, which were rooting amongst the dead leaves for insects. These creatures are much like large hedgehogs in appearance, but their spines are much softer ; moreover, they have the same disagreeable stench as the fruit bats, and those I brought on board were not favourably received by my companions. In spite of its unpleasant smell the tenrec is used as an article of food in Madagascar, and is greatly appreciated * Lemur mayottensis.
Text Appearing After Image:
The edge of the foret d'Ambre, Madagascar (Parc National de Montagne d'Ambre (Madagascar)) - A WALKING FISH 91 by the natives. Possibly it has been introduced into the Comoro Islands from Madagascar on account of its edible qualities. The natives of the Comoro Islands also hold the lemur in great esteem as a delicacy, and they declare it to be, when young,quite as good eating as chicken. Lower down the hill, amongst the sugar cane and other cultivated crops, were several species of birds, but most of these were without any doubt introductions, and as such were not worthy of notice. Numbers of small swifts* were flying round the cocoanut palms near our landing place. Owing to its rapid flight this swift is very difficult to shoot?so that only one specimen was obtained. This one fell on a patch of bare ground which was honey combed by the burrows of land-crabs ; before I could pick it up a crab, starting forward and seizing it, dragged it underground, and only with great difficulty was I able to open up the burrow and rescue the bird. Green bee-eaters*j* were seen in numbers

Note About Images