as we know that they were all brought from the small island of Rodriguez, where no bird
now exists to which they can be referred, we have a right to assume that they belong to the
extinct species described and figured by Leguat as the Solitaire.
On comparing these bones from Rodriguez with the few remains extant of the Dodo of
Mauritius, we see at once that they are not specifically identical. The tarso-metatarsal from
Rodriguez is about an inch longer than that of the Dodo, and the proportions of the other
bones indicate a more erect and longer legged bird, precisely as the description and figure of
the Solitaire given by Leguat would lead us to expect. On the other hand, the peculiar
form of the calcaneal processes, the expansion of the distal end of the tarso-metatarsal, the
large surface of attachment for the posterior rqetatarsal, and other characters which distinguish
the Dodo, are precisely repeated in the bones before us, showing that the species to
which they belong is unquestionably very nearly allied to, though not identical with, the
Dodo. And it is important to remark that as far as we can trace the points of agreement
between these two extinct birds, they are shared in common with the Pigeons, and exist in
no. other known families of birds.
. Unfortunately the cranium of the supposed Solitaire is very imperfect (see Plate XIII.);
and the anterior portion is entirely wanting. With such incomplete data, it may, therefore,
appear premature* to assert the generic distinction of these two birds. Yet from the greater
length of the legs, and less development of the beak, as indicated by Leguat, it seems certain
that the Dodo and the Solitaire would be classed (according to the present standard of zoological
characters) in two distinct genera. I therefore propose to bestow upon the Solitaire the
provisional generic name of PuzoPHArs (from Wgw, pedestrian, and a pigeon), in the
confidence that future discoveries of the remaining parts of the skeleton will justify this
denomination. The Columbine characters of the Solitaire will be fully described by Dr.
Melville in the second Part of this work, but I will draw attention in passing, to certain peculiarities
recorded by Leguat in his account of the Solitaire, which confirm this view of its
affinities. I refer to the feeding on Dates or Plantains, the monogamous habits, the laying
only one egg, the building a nest, and the inability of the nestling to provide for itself. Now
the first of these characters is incompatible with any supposed Raptorial affinities, and the four
last are opposed to the Gallinaceous hypothesis, but the whole of them are consistent with
the habits of that anomalous family, the Colvmbidte} And as we have osteological evidence
of the affinity of the Solitaire to the Dodo, we thus obtain a reflected and collateral proof of
the Columbine relations of the latter bird.
There is one remarkable character in the skeleton of the Solitaire which seems opposed
to the supposition that it belongs to a brevipennate bird. In ordinary birds the power of
flying requires great size and strength in the pectoral muscles, and a largely developed keel
Mr. Blyth tells us that the Pigeons of the genus Carpophaga “ do not in general lay more than one egg, and
certain species invariably but one; in which respect they resemble the celebrated Passenger Pigeon of NortK
America (Edoptom tmgratoria).”—Journ. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, vol. xiv. p. 855.
upon the sternum for their insertion. But,'in the Ostriches, where the wings are short and
feeble, the pectoral muscles are exceedingly small, and the sternum is destitute of a medial
keel. Now in the sternum of the Solitaire we find a considerably developed keel, such as
would almost indicate volatile powers.||ifa Plate XIII.) The shortness of the humerus,
however, nodess than.the positive testimony of Leguat, prove that the bird was wholly unable
to rise, from the ground. The presence of j#stemal keel would therefore appear anomalous,
were' it not for a circumstance mentioned by Leguat, namely, that the bird used its wings
for self-defence, and was able to inflict considerable blows with, these members, for which
end a corresponding strength of the pectoral muscles, and enlargement of the sternal keel
would be required. It is, moreover, evident from the figures handed down to us, both of the
Dodo and the Solitaire, that the wings of these birds, thiugh too short for flight, were yet
considerably more developed both in size and structure, than is the case in the StntUonidæ.
Before leaving the Island of Rodriguez I must call attention to the following passage
of Leguat :—
“ Nos Gelinottes sont grasses, pendant tonte l’auueé, & il’ un goût très câicat. Elles sont toutes
d’ un gris clair, n’ y ayant .que très peu de différence de plumage, entre les deux, sexes. Elles cachent
si bien leur nids que nous n’hrÇ avons pû découvrir, ni par conséquent goûter leurs Oeufs. Elles ont
un ourlet rouge autour de l’ oeil. Et leur bec qui est droit et pointu, est rouge aussi; long d’ environ
deux pouces. Elles ne se sgauroient guères voler [“ they cannot fly ”—Eng. éd.], la graisse les rendant
trop pesantes. Si on leur présente quelque ciiose île rouge, cela les irrite si fort qu’ elles viennent
l’ attaquer pour tâcher de l’ emporter; si bien que dans l’ ardeur du combat on a occasion deles
prendre facilement.”—Pvf-'O 3.
The English translation is as follows :—•
“ Oor Mood-l lens are fat. all .the year rpund,.and of a most delicate taste: Thqir colour is always
of a bright gray, and there’s very little difference in the plumage between .,lie two sexes. They hide
their nests: so well that we cou’d not find ’em out, and consequently did not tast- their eggs. They
have a red liSt about their eyes, their beaks are straight and pointed, near two inches long, and red
also. They cannot fly, their fat makes ’em too heavy for it. If you offer them anything that’s red,
they ajjgso angry that they will fly at « to catch it out of your hand, and in the heat of the combat
we had an opportunity to take them with ease.”—Eng. ed. p. 75.
The name Gelinotte would imply a bird allied in appearance to the Grouse of Europe,
but the “ straight pointed beak, two inches long,” seems to place this bird out of the p a S f
the Gallinaceous order. I cannot help suspecting that we have here an indication of another
brevipennate bird, nearly, if not quite, unable to fly, and related, perhaps by analogy only, to
the Didinoe, while its affinities may have pointed towards the Apteryx. This conjecture derives
probability from the unknown Mauritian bird, figured by Van den Broecke, and by Herbert,
and described by Cauche (vide supra, pp. 19, ffli);) and which may have been related to the
“ Gelinotte ” of Leguat, especially as the latter mentions Gelinottes among the birds of
Mauritius, as well as of Rodriguez. Cauche, too, records that his “ Poules rouges au bec de
a