DODO 155 
supposed—but really very slight—affinity to the Dopo, and of the 
belief that it would speedily undergo the same fate, has already 
caused legends about it to spring up, and statements are made to 
the effect that it has changed its habits so as to ensure its safety 
from the numerous enemies which civilization has introduced. I 
have no means of contradicting such assertions, but according to my 
own experience they are very unlikely to be true, and they should 
be verified by particular observation and not left to general im- 
pression. Living examples have several times been taken to 
Sydney, and 3 have been exhibited in the Zoological Gardens in 
London. ‘The first of them, obtained through the care of Dr. George 
Bennett (Proc. Zool. Soc. 1864, p. 158), laid an egg (Proc. Zool. Soc. 
1867, p. 164, pl. xv. fig. 6) which was of the normal Columbine 
form and nearly of the normal Columbine colour. It must be con- 
fessed that the species, the speedy extinction of which seems prob- 
able, was not lively or attractive as a cage-bird. 
DODO, from the Portuguese Doudo (a simpleton), a large bird 
formerly inhabiting Mauritius, but now extinct—the Didus ineptus of 
Linneus. ‘The precise year in which that island was discovered by 
the Portuguese is undetermined ; but M. Codine shews (Mém. Géogr. 
sur la Mer des Indes, chap. vii. Paris: 1868) that it was probably in 
1507, and it was by them called Cerne, after one of their ships 
so named from an island mentioned by Pliny (Hist. Nat. vi. 
36; x. 9), though many authors have insisted that it was 
known to the seamen of that nation as Ilha do Cisne— 
perhaps but a corruption of Cerne, and brought about by their 
finding it stocked with large fowls, which, though not aquatic, they 
likened to Swans, the most familiar to them of bulky birds. How- 
ever, that early experience is unfortunately lost to us, no direct 
evidence having come to light, and nothing positive can be asserted 
of the island or its inhabitants (none of whom, it should be 
observed, were human) until 1598, when the Dutch, under Van 
Neck, arrived there and renamed it Mauritius. A narrative of 
this voyage was published in 1601, if not sooner, and has been 
often reprinted. Here we have birds spoken of as big as Swans or 
bigger, with large heads, no wings, and a tail consisting of a few 
curly feathers. The Dutch called them Walghvogels (the word is 
variously spelt), i.e “nauseous birds,” because, as is said, no 
cooking made them palatable; but another and perhaps better 
reason, for it was admitted that their breast was tender, is also 
assigned, namely, that this island-paradise afforded an abundance 
of superior fare. De Bry gives two admirably quaint prints of 
the doings of the Hollanders, and in one of them the /Valchvogel 
1 Alewyn and Collé, in their WVoordenschat der twee Taalen Portugeesch en 
Nederduitsch (Amsterdam: 1714, p. 362), render it ‘‘en sot, dwaas, dol, of 
uitzinnig mensch.” 
