236 Royal Irish Academy. 



In the Common Cock the calcaneal process more resembles that 

 in the Dodo than the Vulture's does, but it is not so broad. 



With regard to the first or proximal phalanx of the hind-toe, that 

 of the Haliaetus is larger and broader, especially at its base, stronger 

 in proportion to its length, but longer in proportion to the sustaining 

 metatarsus. 



In the Vultures the proximal phalanx is not only longer in pro- 

 portion to the metatarsus, but is more slender than in the Dodo. 

 The same bone is also longer and more slender in proportion to the 

 small supporting metatarsal bone in the Cock, the Crax, and all other 

 Gallince ; in fact, the Dodo is peculiar among Birds for the equality 

 of length of the metatarsus and proximal phalanx of the hind-toe. 

 With regard to the three trochlear extremities of the principal 

 coalesced metatarsals, the middle one in all Gallince is longer in pro- 

 portion than in the Dodo, in which the inner one is nearly as long 

 as the middle one, the outer one being the shortest. In the Eagle 

 the inner division is of quite equal length with, or is longer than the 

 middle trochlea ; the proportions of the three trochlese in the Vul- 

 tures corresponding best with those in the Dodo. Another character 

 by which the Dodo resembles the Vulture more than the Eagle is 

 manifested by the proportions of the proximal phalanx of the second 

 toe (innermost of the three anterior ones) ; this is very short, and 

 is often anchylosed to the second phalanx in the Eagles : it is almost 

 as long in the Vultures as in the Dodo. 



Upon the whole, then, the Raptorial character prevails most in 

 the structure of the foot, as in the general form of the beak, of the 

 Dodo, compared with Birds generally ; and the present limited amount 

 of our anatomical knowledge of the extinct terrestrial Bird of the 

 Mauritius would lead to support the conclusion that it is an extremely 

 modified form of the Raptorial Order. 



Devoid of the power of flight, it could have had small chance of 

 obtaining food by preying upon the members of its own class ; and if 

 it did not exclusively subsist on dead and decaying organized matter, 

 it most probably restricted its attacks to the class of Reptiles, and to 

 the littoral fishes, Crustacea, &c. 



The author concluded by recommending search to be made for 

 bones of the Dodo in the superficial deposits, the alluvium of rivers, 

 and the caves in the islands of Mauritius and Rodriguez ; little 

 doubting that an active exploration would be as richly rewarded as 

 similar investigations have been in the islands of .New Zealand, by 

 the recovery of the remains of the great extinct species of terrestrial 

 birds which formerly inhabited them. 



ROYAL IRISH ACADEMY. 



At the Annual Meeting on the 1 6th of March last, the following 

 Address was delivered from the Chair by Sir William Rowan Ha- 

 milton, L.L.D. &c. &c. 



"My Lords and Gentlemen of the Royal Irish Academy, — 

 Although it is, I believe, well known to most, perhaps to all, of you, 

 that it has been for a considerable time my wish and intention to 



