was only in the autumn of 1847, that I had an opportunity of following up the observations in question
more accurately, but my continued researches arrived at the conclusion that the Dodo was better placed as
a cursorial bird in the vicinity of the Plovers, which are very like the Pigeon in the form of their skulls;
especially as many others of its characters were also noticed in various wading birds. This result was
already arrived at, and communicated to several friends (v. Baer, Kutorga, v. Middenderf, &c.) before
I learnt Mr.-Strickland's opinion.”
The preceding remarks on the affinities of the Dodo, by Professor Brandt, would scarcely require any
comment, were it not for the distinguished reputation of the Author as a Zoologist. It will readily be
granted, that with all the materials extant for the decision of this question, at our command, we have more
ample means of instituting the requisite comparisons, than the learned Professor, who had only a rough
cast of the'imperfect head at Copenhagen. The superficial resemblances, in the contour of the skull, and
in the covering of the upper mandible, between Pigeons and Plovers, have been long known to naturalists;
and were thus indicated by Swainson, in 1886 (Classification of Birds, vol. 2. p. 175), when speaking of
the Plovers j—“ Their heads are thick, and their eyes large, dark, and placed far back in the head; the bill
is short, with the basal half soft, but the outer half becomes abruptly thick; and is often obsoletely
notched, so as closely to resemble that of the Pigeon family, which in the Rasorial circle, appears to
represent the great order of Waders.” We were well acquainted with these superficial analogies; but,
both from actual observation of the marked and essential differences in the structure of the cranium and
foot in Pigeons, from that of the corresponding parts in Plovers, and also from a more correct interpretation
of external characters, which, if rightly .understood, are as valuable as those furnished by anatomical
investigation, we were led to reject the hypothesis of any direct affinity existing between these families.
Professor Brandt seems in this instance to have mistaken analogy for affinity, and in his anxiety to discover
a link connecting dissevered groups, has wandered from the true method of investigation. The figures
here given of the skull, and of the metatarsi, and the accurate representations of the integuments of
the head and foot, will now enable our continental brethren to make the necessary comparisons, and to
decide this interesting question for themselves; and it only remains to call their attention to the observations
on the family characters of the skull in Pigeons, p. 97, su/pra.
Literal Translations of the Latin, French, Dutch, and German passages relating to the Dodo, in Part I., Ch. I.
1. Page 9. “ Insula dicta præterquam,” &c.
This island, besides being very fertile in terrestrial products, feeds vast numbers of birds, such as Turtle-doves,
which occur in such plenty, that three of our men sometimes captured 150 in half a day, and might easily have
taken more by hand, or killed them with sticks, if we had not been overloaded with the burden of them. Grey
Parrots are also common there, and other birds, besides a large kind, bigger than our swans, with large heads, half
of which is covered with skin like a hood. These birds want wings, in place of which are three or four blackish
feathers. The tail consists of a few slender, curved feathers, of a grey colour. We called them Walckvôgel, for
this reason, that the longer they were boiled, the tougher and more uneatable they became. Their stomachs,
however, and breasts were well tasted and easy to masticate. Another reason for the name was that we had an
abundance of Turtle-doves, of a much sweeter and more agreeable flavour.
2. Page 9. “ Déclaration de ce qu’avons veu,” &c.
Fig. 1. Are Tortoises which frequent the land, deprived of paddles for swimming, of such size that they load a
man ; they crawl very stiffly, and catch crawfish a foot in length, which they eat.
Fig. 2. Is a bird, called by us Walckvôgel, the size of a Swan. The rump is round, covered with two or three
curled feathers ; they have no wings, but in place of them three or four black feathers. We took a number of these
birds, together with Turtle-doves and other birds, which were captured by our companions when they first visited
the country, in quest of a deep and potable river where the ships could lie in safety. They returned in great joy,
distributing their game to each ship, and we sailed the next day for this harbour, supplying each ship with a pilot
from among those who had been there before. We cooked this bird, which was so tough that we could not boil it
sufficiently, but eat it half raw. As soon as we reached the harbour, the Admiral sent us with several men into the
country to seek for inhabitants, but we found none, only Turtle-doves and other birds in great abundance, which
we took »md killed, for as there was no one to scare them, they had no fear of us, but kept their places and allowed
us to kill them. In short, it is a country abounding in fish and birds, insomuch that it exceeded all the others
visited during the voyage.
Fig. 3. A Date-tree, the leaves of which are so large that a man may shelter himself from the rain under one
of them, and when one bores a hole in them and puts in a pipe, there issues wine like dry wine, of a mild and sweet
flavour : but when one keeps it three or four days, it becomes sour. It is called Palm-wine.
Fig. 4. Is a bird which we called Ratios Forcados, on account of their tails which are shaped like sheers.
They are very tame, and when their wings are stretched they are nearly a fathom in length. The beak is long,
and the birds are nearly black, with white breasts. They catch and eat flying-fish, also the intestines of fish and
birds, as we proved with those which we captured, for when we were dressing them, and threw away the entrails,
they seized and devoured the entrails and bowels of their comrades. They were very tough when cooked.
Fig. 5. Is a bird which we called Indian Crow, more than twice as big as the Parroquets, of two or three
colours.
2 K