piGi:().\s. 37 



Family 1. Dididu. Dodos. (Plate II.) 



Xo more strikiiii;- illustration of adaptation to a gromul-dwcllinu' lilb ITabl'- 

 oan be found tl.an that fnruislied bv the Dodo (205) [PI. 11.1 and its uUv ',f"-'" ■''■' . 

 Die Solitaire (206 ), both long since extiuct. liemains of these now ruses I'.), 

 famous birds -rrill be found in two of the Table-eases in this bay. Botii -"-J 

 these relatively aiuantic Pigeons wcie tlitrlitless, a condition iirobablv ilue 

 to the fact that they lived on small islands uniuliabitcd by man or other 

 enemies, and were able to procure food in abundance without resorting 

 to flight. As a result of this easy life tlie body gradually acquired a 

 greatly increased l)ulk, whilst the wings gradually decreased in size, 

 till flight at last became au impossibility. 



Tlie Solitaire (Pe~opfiaps so/ifar/us) (206), though less well-kuowu 

 tlian the Dodo, was in some respects more remarkable, for the wings 

 of the males were armed with large bony knobs, apparently used as 

 weapons of oft'ence. The Dodo {Didtiti itiepiiis) (205) inhabited the 

 island of Mauritius and the Solitaire that of Rodriguez, both in the 

 Indian Ocean. When these islands were tirst discovered by Europeans 

 both the Dodo and Solitaire existed in large numbers, but being unable 

 to protect themselves by flight, they were rapidly killed off for food ; 

 their extermination being accelerated by the introductinu of dogs, cats, 

 and swine. Probably by the end of the ITth ceiituiy nut one of these 

 birds survived, and what we know of their external appearance is derived 

 from a few old paintings and from skeletons. One of tiie most 

 interesting paintings is exhibited in the adjoining Wall-case, and is a 

 portrait from life, painted in Holland by Koclandt Savery. Tiiis picture 

 was once the property of Sir Hans Sloane and given by him to George 

 Edwardes, F.R.S., who presented it to the Hriiish Museum in 1759. 



Family II. Diduncvlid.t:. Tooth-billed Pigeon. 

 Besides the two extinct types just mentioned, there are many other [t'a^^^^ 1'.).] 

 species of Pigeons which have taken to a terrestrial life, and are hence 

 known as Ground-Pigeons. One of these is the Tooth-billed Pigeon 

 [Dkluncidus .strigirostris) (207) of Samoa, which was reported to be 

 nearly extinct in 1863. It is now, however, said to be once more 

 increasing, having entirely changed its habits and taken to an arboreal 

 life. It feeds and roosts in the highest trees, and whereas it formerly 

 laid its single egg on the ground like the Dodo, it now builds its nest 

 in the branches. On account of its heavy bill, it bears some 

 resemblance to the Dodo, and is mainly on this account held by some 

 to be an ally of that extinct bird. 



