Cil. IL] OF THE SOLITAIRE. 49
landscape (see plate IV.) and two maps which accompany the work, no less than twentyeight
small figures of Solitaires are introduced, all of which very closely correspond with the
enlarged representation here exhibited.
Besides the above lengthened description, Leguat alludes to these birds in several other
passages. One of these is very important, as supplying the only testimony extant as to the
food of any member of the sub-family Didinee.
"The Plantane is a sort of Palm-tree The dates of the Plantane are bigger than
those of the Palm-tree. Having abundance of better tilings to feed on, Fish and Flesh, Fruits, &c.,
we left the dates for the Turtles and other birds, particularly the Solitaries, of which we shall
hereafter make mention." pp. 60, 61.
The statement that the Solitaire lays but one egg, and that its nest is a heap of palmleaves,
is very interesting, as Cauche makes a similar assertion regarding the Dodo (supra, p. 22).
Leguat repeats his statement in another place. Speaking of Sea-Fowl, he says:—
"They lay three tunes a year, and but one egg at a time, like the Solitaries: which is the more
remarkable for that if 1 am not mistaken,1 we have no example of anything like it among our
European Birds." p. 80.
1 He was mistaken, however, for the European Petrels, the Gannct, and most of the Alcida lay only a single egg.