DODO, SPOONBILL, NIGHTINGALE. 113 



THE DODO. 



There are perhaps three species of Dodo j one, called 

 the Solitary, makes its nest in bye-places, of leaves of the 

 palm, a foot and a half in thickness, and lays one egg. 

 The male sits in turn, and does not suffer any bird to 

 approach within two hundred yards of the spot while the 

 hen is sitting, which is seven weeks. 



The young is some months before it can shift for itself, 

 the old ones are affectionate to it, and faithful to each 

 other. The young ones are esteemed for the table. It is 

 said that a stone is found in the gizzard : perhaps no 

 more than in all granivorous birds. 



THE SPOONBILL. 



THE most remarkable peculiarity of this bird is its bill, 

 from the shape of which it derives its appellation. The 

 member is of a black shining bright colour, and has its 

 upper surface waved with dotted protuberances ; the whole 

 substance being thin, light, and elastic, like whalebone. 

 The plumage of the whole body, wings, and tail, is white, 

 and the head is adorned with a beautiful crest of white 

 feathers bending backwards. The legs are black, as are 

 the thighs, which are naked half their length. 



THE NIGHTINGALE. 



THE nightingale has been so long celebrated for its 

 melody, with which it charms the ear, and which is, 

 perhaps, unrivalled among birds, that its very name seems 

 to embellish poetical description, and to convey a sort of 

 pleasure to the mind, which words cannot easily depict. 

 Almost every modern versifier mentions it with congenial 

 rapture ; and the ancient bards, who so closely painted 

 from nature, have exerted themselves to praise its reputa- 

 tion. 



This bird, the most celebrated of the feather tribe, for 



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