APPENDIX. 559 



looking bird, and has no particular attraction except in the 

 anomalous and extraordinary form of the beak, which cannot 

 fail to excite the attention of the most ordinary observers. 

 The only sound it utters is a quick ' Coo-coo-coo,' the beak 

 being always a little open when the notes are emitted. The 

 bird was captured about five miles from Apia, in the Island of 

 Upolu ; it is evident, therefore, that a few still remain there, 

 It is, however, agreed by every one with whom I have con- 

 versed, that has resided at the Navigators' Islands, that it is 

 nearly extinct, both from being eaten by the natives as well 

 as by cats, rats, and other vermin. Its food consisted at first 

 of boiled yams, but it will eat bananas, apples, bread, and 

 boiled potatoes." 



Another paper, by Dr. Bennett, on this extraordinary bird, 

 was read at the Meeting of the Society on the 22nd of March 

 1864, in which he says: — "In the contour of the bill, the 

 form and position of the nostrils, and several other characters, 

 the Didimcidus differs from any other living species yet known. 

 Although a smaller bird in size, it approximates the nearest 

 in all its characters to the extinct Dodo, and, like it, combines 

 the characters of a rapacious bird with that of the harmless 

 Pigeon. Although the mandibles are powerful in structure, 

 yet the beak is never used as an offensive weapon ; for, when 

 the hand is placed in the cage, or the bird is seized for re- 

 moval from one cage to another, it never attempts to bite ; 

 but, on the contrary, is so timid that, after flattering about 

 or running into a dark corner, it soon becomes subdued and is 

 easily taken." Speaking of another living pair he had recently 

 purchased, Dr. Bennett says : — " They w^ould nibble into 

 minute bits the seeds of loquats, almonds, and hemp-seed, 

 Avith the same action as the Parrot tribe when feeding. When 

 I first had them, boiled potatoes and bread formed their diet ; 

 the former being soft were torn and swallowed in large pieces, 

 but the latter they placed under their feet and tore with their 

 hooked beak into small bits. It w^as supposed that the bird 



