234 



AVES. 



in New Zealand, where some bones of it have been found, and a tradition of its destruction is preserved by the 

 inhabitants.] 



N. B. — We cannot with propriety admit into this series, species so little known, or so ill-authenti- 

 cated, as those which compose the genus of 



Dodos (Didus, Lin.), — 

 The first species of which (D. ineptus) is only known from the description of it by the early Dutch navigators, 



preserved in Clusius (Exot. p. 99), and by an oil-paint- 

 ing, of the same epoch, copied by Edwards, pi. 294 ; for 

 the description by Herbert is puerile, and all the rest 

 are copied from Clusius and Edwards. It seems that 

 the species has entirely disappeared, for at the present 

 time there is only a foot of it extant in the British Mu- 

 seum, and an ill-preserved head in the Ashmolean Mu- 

 seum at Oxford. The beak appears to be not without 

 some resemblance to that of the Awks, and the foot 

 would resemble that of the Penguins, had it been pal- 

 mated. [Since this was written, the author personally 

 examined these last precious remains of the now extinct 

 Dodo, and was not merely satisfied of their validity and 

 total generic distinctness, but expressed an opinion 

 that the foot also preserved at Oxford was specifically 

 different from that in the British Museum.] 



The second species (D. solilarhis) rests on the sole 

 testimony of Leguat (Voy. i. p. 98), a man who has mis- 

 represented well-known species of animals, as the Hip- 

 popotamus and Manati. 

 The third, or Bird of Nazareth (D. nazarenus), is 

 Kig. lio.— The Dodo. on ] v known from the account of Frangois Carechi, who 



considers it the same as the first species, giving it however but three toes, while all the others allow that bird to 

 have four. No one has been able to inspect any of these birds since the time of those voyagers. 



The Apteryx, Shaw, — 

 Appears, of all Birds, to have the wings most completely reduced to simple rudiments. 



Its general 



The feet also hear some resemblance to those of 

 The heak is very long, slender, marked on each 



form is that oi" a Penguin, and size that of a Goose, 

 the Penguins, hut are not descrihed to be palmated. 

 side with a longitudinal groove, and furnished 

 with a membrane at its base : [the nostrils are 

 placed at the top of the upper mandible be- 

 neath, which passes beyond the under one]. 

 Wing reduced to a little stump, terminated by a 

 hook. 



[Several specimens of this singular bird have re- 

 cently been received, more particularly in England, 

 and its characters are now- tolerably determined. It 

 has no relationship whatever with the Penguin group, 

 but there is every reason to place it in the present 

 family. From all other birds, it differs in the com- Fig - U6 — The Apteryx. 



pleteness of its diaphragm, and in the absence of abdominal air cells ; none of its bones are hollow. The sternum 

 is exceedingly reduced, with one deep posterior emargination on each side, and also a pair of anomalous perfora- 

 tions or foramina towards the middle : the ribs are extraordinarily broad, and a single pair of vocal muscles are 

 attached to the coracoids : stomach but slightly muscular, and intestines of mean length, with moderate-sized 

 coeca. The feathers have no accessory plume, and their shafts are prolonged considerably beyond the barb ; 

 there are many long vibrissas about the base of the bill, which is invested with a ceral membrane. The feet have 

 a short and elevated hind-toe, the claw of which is alone externally visible. The dimensions of the female appear 

 to exceed those of the male, and her bill is longer. Size that of a domestic fowl, and colour deep brown. 



This very interesting bird is nocturnal in its time of action, and subsists on insects. It runs with rapidity, and 

 defends itself vigorously with its feet. Its native name is Kivi-khi, derived from its cry.] 



The family of 



Pressirostres — 

 Comprehends a number of genera with elongated tarsi, in which the back-toe is either quite 

 absent, or so short as not to reach the ground. Bill moderate, but strong enough to penetrate 



