6 INTRODUCTION.
descriptions of unscientific voyagers, threé or foin* oil paintings, and a few scattered osseous
fragments, which have survived the neglect of two hundred years. The paleontologist has,
in many cases, far better data for determining the zoological characters of a species which
perished myriads of years ago, than those presented by a group of birds, several species of
which were living in the réign of Charles the First.
We, shall find it convenient fo treat of each island^ and of its ornithic productions,
separately. And, "first, of the best Known and most celebrated of these creatures, the
brevipennate bmTof Mauritius', the D odo . '
NATURAL HISTORY
ERRATA.
Page 4, folio, for iv. read 4.
„ 30, line 32,/or Bellvedere, read Belvedere.
" „ 38, „ 26, for 1845, read 1846.
, 44, „ 9, for tarso-metarsal, read tarso-metatarsal.
*, .57, „ 27, for 1674, read 1647.
„ 70, „ 6, for posterior, read superior.
xuxrar pcxauuo iucr aunuaiuroa—vncn one geuertu. lauis connected wiin mai extraordinary
production of Nature, known by the name of the Dodo,—that strange abnormal Bird, whose
grotesque appearance, and the failure of every effort made for the last century, and a half to
discover living specimens, long caused its very existence to be doubted by scientific naturalists.
We possess, however, unquestionable evidence that such a bird formerly existed in the small
Island of Mauritius, and it is ascertained with no less certainty that the species has been
utterly exterminated for a period of nearly two centuries.
The evidences which we possess respecting the Dodo, may be conveniently arranged on
the plan adopted by Mr. Broderip, in his valuable essay on the subject,1 by dividing them
into historical, pictorial, and real.
1 Penny Cyclopaedia vol. ix. p. 47.