Letter from the Bon. Mr. G. Cunbigham. 



93 



short, thick, curved neck. Of the whole, it (the Dodo 

 of Mauritius) is the best known. Besides prints and 

 drawings of the animal when alive, and numerous not 

 exactly authenticated portions of it, one perfect scull 

 of this species exists at Oxford and another at Copen- 

 hagen. 



What is now chiefly to be desired is, that these Is- 

 lands be searched for remains of these extraordinary 

 birtls ; their bones and even fragments of them, how- 

 ever small, ought to be carefully preserved for exa- 

 mination. It is in the newest and most superficial de- 

 posits that search will most probably be successful. 

 "As they were favourite articles of food when the ls- 

 " lands were just colonized," it has be^ n suggested by 

 Col. Lloyd, whose knowledge of the Island is extensive 

 and accurate, that neglected mounds of rubbish, such 

 as Mr. Strickland alludes to, do probably exist in the 

 neighbourhood of "Oid t Mahelounjr and that is a 

 place where such remains are likely to be found. 



I have the honor to be, 

 Sir, 

 Your most obedient servant, 



Geo. C. Coninqhame. 



