200 ORDER V. GALLING. DODO. 



sued, it either kicks like a horse, or overturns its assail- 

 ant, by running against him and treading him under foot. 

 It moves with astonishing celerity, but in the most awkward 

 form imaginable ; swallows every thing without distinction 

 that comes within its reach ; and what it cannot digest it 

 voids unaltered, without injury to itself. 



The islands of the Indian Archipelago, and New Hol- 

 land, seem to be the natural climate of this extraordinary 

 bird ; and its domain, as it may be called, begins where 

 that of the ostrich ends. The latter has not been found 

 beyond the Ganges ; while the cassowary is never seen 

 nearer than the islands of Java, Banda, Sumatra, and the 

 Moluccas ; and even there it is scarce, so that it is con- 

 sidered as a curiosity, even in its native country. 



ORDER V GALLING. 



THE bills of birds of the poultry kind, the most valuable 

 of all the orders, are somewhat convex, for the purpose 

 of gathering their food, and the upper beak projects over 

 the lower. Their bodies are fat and muscular, and their 

 flesh is white and pure. They live principally on grain ; 

 make simple nests ; and, unlike the other classes of birds, 

 are promiscuous in their attachments, being strangers to 

 connubial fidelity. 



THE DODO. 



This very large and unwieldy bird, of the gallinaceous 

 kind, is perhaps the most inelegant of all the feathered 

 race, nor can any words convey an adequate idea of its 

 singular conformation. Its bill is of an extraordinary 

 length and figure, and its legs resemble pillars. The body 

 is generally covered with greyish feathers ; the wings are 

 too short to assist its flight ; and the tail, which is com- 

 posed of a few white curled feathers, is awkwardly placed. 



