THE DODO. 323 



cells ; its use is not exactly known, but it has been inge- 

 niously conjectured, that in a country like New Holland, 

 parts of which are particularly exposed to sudden floods, 

 the sandy plains in the interior are inundated, and the 

 Emus in seeking their food amongst, or attempting to 

 escape from these marshes, must be often obliged to 

 have recourse to swimming; which considering their 

 weight would be difficult, were it not for the power of 

 filling this pouch with air, and thus keeping their heads 

 and necks above water. That this is correct we have 

 good reason for believing : for Captain Short, in the 

 account of his recent expedition into the interior of 

 Australia, mentions the fact of two Emus swimming 

 across the Morumbidgee, in a part of considerable width 

 and rapidity, which they would never have ventured to 

 attempt, so peculiarly are they in body and limb un- 

 fitted for swimming, without some internal capacity simi- 

 lar to the above*. 



Of the last bird in this list, the Dodo, no particulars 

 are known. The following account of one exhibited in 

 London is the only instance, we believe, on record of 

 its appearance as a living species in modern times ; we 

 give it on the authority of Sir Hamon L'Estrange, 

 quoted in Sir Thomas Browne's works, vol. ii., p. 174. 

 " About 1638, as I walked London streets, I sawe the 

 picture of a strange fowle hang out, and myselfe, with 

 one or two more then in company, went in to see it. It 

 was kept in a chamber, and was a great fowle, some- 

 what bigger than the largest Turkey-cock, and so legged 

 and footed, but shorter and thicker, and of a more 

 'erect shape, couloured before like the breast of a young 

 cock Fesan, and on the back of dunn or deare coulour. 

 The keeper called it a Dodo, and in the ende of a 

 chimney in the chamber there lay an heap of large 

 pebble stones, whereof he gave it many in our sight, 

 some as bigge as nutmegs, and the keeper told us shee 

 eate them, conducing unto digestion; and though I 



* See note on the pouch of the Hurgila, page 351. 



Y 2 



