444 Contributions t&wards the Natural History 



and a somewhat traveller-like stretch of imagination to enhance 

 the value of his book, yet his evidence must be deemed con- 

 clusive, strengthened as it is by the collateral testimony of 

 other voyagers, and by all the facts and statements brought 

 forward by Mr. Duncan, in a paper upon this subject, pub- 

 lished in the Zoological Journal for January, 1828, p. 554., 

 from all which it appears, that a hirdoi corresponding size and 

 character did actually exist, of which the only remains are a 

 hill and foot in the Ashmolean Museum at 

 Oxford, and 2ifoot [fig. 108.) in the British 

 Museum, all of which I had the satisfaction 

 of examining on my return from the Mauri- 

 tius in 1816. 



Mr. Duncan, in the paper alluded to, proves 

 that a specimen of this bird existed in Tra- 

 descant's museum at Lambeth [Mus. Trade- 

 scant., No. 4., Dodar; Ashmolean Catalogue, 

 1684, No. 29., Gdllus galli?idceus peregrmus 

 Cusii% where it was seen by Ray and Wil- 

 loughby. This museum being subsequently 

 removed to Oxford by Dr. Ashmole, we find 

 the specimen there in 1700, by the testimony of Hyde, in his 

 Religion is Fete?^um Persarum, Sfc. Hist.; and in a catalogue of 

 the museum, drawn up since 1755, it is stated that " the Num- 

 bers from 5. to 46. (No. 29. being that of the dodo) being de- 

 cayed, were ordered to be destroyed at a meeting of the visitors, 

 Jan. 8. 1755. It is, therefore, almost certain that the bill and 

 Jbot still to be seen in that depository, were those of the above 

 specimen. To verify the painting which is also to be seen in 

 the British Museum, Mr. Duncan appears to have taken all 

 the pains possible, and states it to have been drawn from a 

 living bird, sent from the Mauritius to Holland, the Dutch 

 being the first colonists of that island ; to dissipate all doubts 

 as to its accuracy, however, it should be collated with a de- 

 scription taken lirom the Ashmolean specimen, should such be 

 found to exist. 



The following testimonies, set down in chronological order, 

 may be added to those brought forward by Mr. Duncan, viz. ; 



1497. — Vasco de Gama, after doubling the Cape of Good 

 Hope, found a bay at 60 leagues, Angra de San Blaz, near to 

 an island, where they saw a number of birds which the Por- 

 tuguese call Solitarios, of the form of geese, but with wings 

 similar to those of a bat. 



1499. — On their return they touched again at St. Blaz, 

 where they took a number of solitarios. 



