Notices respecting New Books. 471 



and tail black. The tail-feathers resemble those of an ostrich ; the neck is 

 long, and the beak is like that of a woodcock, but larger; the legs like 

 those of turkeys. This bird has recourse to running, as it flies but very 

 little. 



" 2. Oiseaux bleus, the size of Solitaires, have the plumage wholly blue, 

 the beak and feet red, resembling the feet of a hen. They do not fly, but 

 they run extremely fast, so that a dog can hardly overtake them ; they are 

 very good eating." — P. 59. 



In reviewing the structure of the Dodo in connexion with other 

 anomalies occurring in all classes of the animal kingdom, and glan- 

 cing at the unphilosophical notions held by some naturalists, of the 

 imperfection of certain species presenting such anomalies, the author 

 thus expresses a far more sound and consistent interpretation of the 

 laws of organization. 



" It may appear at first sight difficult to account for the presence of organs 

 which are practically useless. Why, it may be asked, does the Whale 

 possess the germs of teeth which are never used for mastication ? Why has 

 the Proteus eyes when he is especially created to dweil in darkness ? And 

 why was the Dodo endowed with wings at all, when those wings were use- 

 less for locomotion ? This question is too wide and too deep to plunge 

 into at present ; I will merely observe, that these apparently anomalous facts 

 are really the indications of laws which the Creator has been pleased to 

 follow in the construction of organized beings; they are inscriptions in an 

 unknown hieroglyphic, which we are quite sure mean something, but of 

 which we have scarcely begun to master the alphabet. There appear, how- 

 ever, reasonable grounds for believing that the Creator has assigned to each 

 class of animals a definite type or structure from which he has never de- 

 parted, even in the most exceptional or eccentric modifications of form. 

 Thus, if we suppose, for instance, that the abstract idea of a Mammal im- 

 plied the presence of teeth, the idea of a Vertebrate the presence of eyes, 

 and the idea of a Bird the presence of wings, we may then comprehend 

 why in the Whale, the Proteus and the Dodo, these organs are merely 

 suppressed, and not wholly annihilated." — P. 34. 



The second part of the work consists of an elaborate account, by 

 Dr. Melville, of the osteology of the Dodo and Solitaire, so far as a 

 most minute and skilful examination of the few bones extant could 

 be rendered available. This important service to science has been 

 greatly facilitated through the enlightened and liberal feeling of the 

 trustees and curators of the museums of Paris, Glasgow and Oxford, 

 who not only permitted free access to these anatomical treasures, 

 but allowed, in the two former instances, the bones themselves to be 

 conveyed to this country for examination. 



The evidence of Dr. Melville derives additional weight from its 

 being free from prejudice, and unshackled by previously declared 

 opinions : to use his own words, " My testimony is that of an im- 

 partial observer with no hypothesis to defend, and who claims no 

 share in the merit due to those who have succeeded in restoring the 

 Dodo to its proper rank." — P. 70. The first chapter is occupied by 

 a detailed statement of the structure of the bones of the Dodo, and 

 a comparative view of that of birds belonging to the several orders 

 and families to which this bird has been hitherto regarded as allied. 



It results that the characters indicate a close alliance with the 



