distinct from the Dodo. 325 



The Solitaire of Rodriguez seems not to have been mentioned by 

 any other author than Leguat, and we may presume that the species 

 was exterminated within a few years after his visit. 



There is* evidence however that other apterous birds of this ano- 

 malous class formerly existed in the adjacent island of Bourbon. In 

 the library of the Zoological Society is a manuscript presented by 

 that active naturalist the late C. Telfair, Esq., who during his resi- 

 dence in Mauritius collected many valuable scientific and historical 

 documents. This MS. is entitled • Journal et Relation des Voyages 

 faits par le S r D. B. aux iles Dauphine ou Madagascar et de Bour- 

 bon ou Mascarenne.' 1669. The author, who seems to have been 

 a very intelligent observer, speaking of the birds of the island of 

 Bourbon, has the following passage : — 



" Oiseaux de terre et leurs noms. 



" Solitaires : ces oiseaux sont nommes ainsi, parce qu'ils vont tou- 

 jours seuls. lis sont gros comme une grosse Oye, et ont le plumage 

 blanc, noir a l'extremite des ailes et de la queue. A la queue il y a 

 des plumes approchantes de celles d'Autruche, ils ont le col long, et 

 le bee fait comme celui des becasses, mais plus gros, les jambes et 

 pieds comme poulets d'Inde. Cet oiseau se prend a la course, ne 

 volant que bien peu. 



" Oiseaux bleus, gros comme les Solitaires, ont le plumage tout 

 bleu, le bee et les pieds rouges, faits comme pieds de poules, ils ne 

 volent point, mais ils courent extremement vite, tellement qu'un 

 chien a peine d'en attraper a la course ; ils sont tres bons." 



The author then proceeds to describe the wild pigeons and other 

 birds of Bourbon. 



It appears then that about the year 1 670 the island of Bourbon was 

 inhabited by two species of Struthious birds, one of which was called 

 Solitaire, and the other Oiseau bleu. The Solitaire of Bourbon seems 

 however to have been distinct from, though probably allied to, the 

 bird of that name in Rodriguez. Its plumage is stated to have been 

 white, with the wings and tail terminated with black, whereas Leguat 

 describes the Rodriguez bird as greyish and brown. The Bourbon 

 species further differed in having a tail similar to that of an ostrich, 

 and in the beak being lengthened, "like that of a woodcock, but 

 stouter," in which respect it must have resembled the Apteryx of New 

 Zealand. The phrase " ne volant que bien peu" would seem to im- 

 ply that the bird possessed some powers of flight, though possibly it 

 may only mean that when hard pressed the bird aided its progress 

 by flapping the wings, or by springing into the air for a short distance. 



The Oiseaux bleus seem to have been a distinct species both from 

 the Dodo and from the Solitaires of Bourbon and of Rodriguez, and 

 to have been wholly unable to fly, but possessed, like the Apteryx, 

 of great cursorial powers. 



We are then justified in believing, from the relations of authors 

 apparently deserving of credit, that the three contiguous islands of 

 Mauritius, Bourbon and Rodriguez were formerly inhabited by at 

 least four distinct species of birds, deprived, or nearly so, of the power 

 of flight, and more nearly allied in structure to the Apteryx of New 

 Zealand than to any other existing genus of birds. And if the ac- 



