The Eighth Continent:

Madagascar, the fourth largest island on Earth, sits off the southeastern coast of Africa. Its lizards emit piercing shrieks, and its lemurs, primates that look much like monkeys, produce songs of almost unbelievable loveliness. Tenrecs, fossas, and upside-down trees are among the creatures and plants that flourish here, although their relatives elsewhere died out millions of years ago.

The forebears of the Malagasy, the collective name for the island's eighteen tribes, are celebrated in boisterous ceremonies called "turning the bones." These rites bring the island's ancestral traditions vividly to life.

Peter Tyson travels with four scientists who set out to untangle the natural and cultural puzzles of this remarkable place. The result is an entertaining account of their journey.