224 LOST AND VANISHING BIRDS 



companions never disunite. We have often re- 

 marked that some days after the young one leaves 

 the nest, a company of thirty or forty brings 

 another young one to it, and the new-fledged bird, 

 with its father and mother joining with the band, 

 march to some bye place. We frequently followed 

 them, and found that afterwards the old ones went 

 each their way alone, or in couples, and left the two 

 young ones together, which we called a marriage. 



" This particularity has something in it which 

 looks a little fabulous, nevertheless what I say is 

 sincere truth, and what I have more than once 

 observed with care and pleasure." 



Many bones of the Solitaire have been recovered 

 by various investigators, so that the osteology of 

 the species is accuratel}' known, thanks to the 

 unwearying efforts of Professor Newton and his 

 accomplished brother, the late Sir Edward Newton. 

 These bones were mostly procured from caves ; but 

 their age seems unknown, although said to belong 

 to a period previous to the colonisation of the 

 island. When we read Leguat's charming and 

 quaint description of this long extinct bird, our 

 wonder increases that so little has been recorded 

 concerning the Great Auk, which dwelt in more 



