SOME OTHER EXTINCT FORMS 235 



islands in the Indian Ocean known collectively 

 as the Mascarenes. Within this area formerly 

 flourished the Dodo and its kindred ; from one or 

 other of these famous islands species after species 

 has disappeared for ever. First we may mention 

 the giant Coot that formerly dwelt in the waters of 

 Mauritius, and the Crested Parrot (Lojjhopsittacus 

 mauritianus), together with that Barn-Owl-like 

 bird, Aluco sauzieri; the Dove (Alectorcenas 

 nitidissinia), as well as the flightless Ralline bird, 

 Aphanaptery?\ Then from another island in this 

 area has finally disappeared that curious Starling 

 (Fregilupus varius), which had its home within 

 the last half-century in Reunion; whilst from 

 lonely Rodriguez — the home, as we have already 

 seen, of the Solitaire — many another has dropped 

 completely out of existence. We have records of 

 what appears to be another form of Aphanapteryx, 

 a small Owl (Athene mmrivora), a peculiar Parrot 

 (Necropsittacus rodericanus) ; a Heron (Ardea 

 megacephala) ; and possibly we may now have to 

 add a Paroquet (Palceornis exsul). Passing on to 

 the Antipodes, we find extirpation prevailing with 

 grievous frequency, as we have already shown in 

 our opening chapter. Dr. Forbes gives a list of no 

 less than seventeen species which formerly lived 



