408 



COLUMBJt'. 



SUB-FAMILY V. 



DiDIN.E. 



TJie Dodos. 



Gen. Chaeac— Bill longer than the head, with the basal portion, for two- 

 thirds of its length, covered by a membrane, and the apical part corneous 

 and vaulted, with the tip hooked and acute, the tip of the lower mandible 

 overlapped by that of the upper mandible, and the gonys short and curved 

 upwards ; the nostrils placed in the fore part of the membranous portion of 

 the bill, and near the lateral margin, with the opening exposed ; the wings 

 and tail imperfect ; the tarsi short, robust, and covered with small irregular 

 scales ; the toes moderate, the fore ones free at their base, and the lateral 

 ones equal, the hind toe long and strong. 



Fig. 164.— the dodo. 

 (Didiis i)ieptus.) 



The Dodo (Didus ineptus), the extinct representative 

 of this sub-family, formerly inhabited, the island of 

 Mauritius : it is supposed to have lived in the dense 

 forests of palms that once covered the island, wandering 

 from tree to tree, tearing with its powerful beak the 

 frwits which strewed the ground, enjoying tranquillity 



