Copy of a Lelitrfrom Mr. Strickland. 9$ 



*0 the Zoological Society. The grand desideratum now 

 •is, to search in each of these islands for any fragments 

 whatever (no matter how small or broken) of these ex- 

 traordinary and extinct birds. The success which has 

 attended Professor Owen's examination of the bone* 

 which have been sent him from New Zealand is very 

 encouraging, 



He has now ascertained the former existence in that 

 Island of at least 8 species of gigantic birds, belonging 

 to two different genera, but all oftliem resembling the 

 Dodo and the Solitaire in being unable to fly. These 

 are fully described in the Transactions of the Zoological 

 Society. If you have access to that excellent work, the 

 Penny Cyclopaedia, you will find under the article 

 Dodo, a full account of all that is yet known of that 

 bird and of the Solitaire. It is in the newest and most 

 superficial deposits of Mauritius, Bourbon and Rodri- 

 gues that search should be made for bones of these 

 birds. As they were favourite articles of food, when 

 ■the Islands were first colonized, it is probable that re- 

 muins of ihem might be found in old neglected mounds 

 of rubbish and ashes near town and villages. Where?' 

 ever excavations are made for) foundations of houses, 

 wells, roads, harbours, or other purposes , attention 

 should be given to the substances turned up, and any 

 bones should be carefully laid aside for examination. 

 The cliffs where the sea washes them away, the sides 

 of ravines, the beds of watercourses, and the soil often 

 covered with stalagmite, which forms the floors of ca- 

 verns, are all likely localities to furnish remains of these 

 birds. It might be the means of drawing attention to 

 ".he subject, and of proving to the inhabitants of the 



