Stnithious Birds in the Islatids near Mauritius. 4-97 



When digested in muriatic acid it partially gelatinizes. It 

 is a rich iron ore, as it contains upwards of 40 per cent, of 

 metallic iron. Specific gravity 2*24. 



4. Obsidian from New Zealand and Ascension. — These spe- 

 cimens were analysed by Mr. James Murdoch. 



The New Zealand specimen was brought from the Bay of 

 Islands; its specific gravity was 2*386. These analyses ap- 

 proximate closely to the results obtained by Berthier in his 

 examination of obsidian from Pasco in Columbia. 



5. Mr. Murdoch analysed a zeolite from Kerguelen's Land, 

 which proved to be a white stilbite. 



LXXIX. On the Evidence of the former Existence of Stru- 

 thious Birds distinct from the Dodo in the islands near Mau- 

 ritius. By H. E. Strickland, Esq.^ M./l.* 

 IT is well known that Leguat, a French Protestant refugee, who 

 for more than two years (from 1691 to 1693) resided in the island 

 of Rodriguez, near Mauritius, described a bird under the name of le 

 Solitaire, which Latham considered to be allied to, but distinct from, 

 the Dodo, and which Gmelin denominated Didus solitarins. Later 

 authors have supposed Leguat's bird to be either altogether fictitious, 

 or to be founded on an imperfect description of the true Dodo, Didus 

 ineptus, Linn., of whose former existence in the island of Mauritius 

 there is now no dispute. Considering, however, that Leguat was a 

 man of education, and that the rest of his narrative bears intrinsic 

 proofs of veracity, there is no reason to doubt the general accuracy 

 of his description of the Solitaire ; and if this be admitted, it follows 

 that his bird was distinct, generically as well as specifically, from the 

 Dodo. 



The Solitaire, as described and figured by Leguat, must have dif~ 

 fered from the Dodo in tlie following respects : — 



1 . The beak is stated to resemble that of a turkey, except in 

 being rather n\ore curved. Leguat's figure corresponds with this 

 description, and exhibits a moderate-sized gallinaceous-formed beak, 

 totally unlike that which we know the Dodo to have possessed. 



2. The Solitaire is said to have had hardly any tail, whereas the 

 Dodo was depicted with an arched tail, like that of the ostrich. 



3. The Solitaire is said to be longer in the leg (" jdIus haut mon- 



• From the Proceedings of tlie Zoological Society, Part xii. p. 77, having 

 been read April 23,1844. 



