324 Mr. H. E. Stricklantl on the existence of Struthious Birds 



XXXIX. — On the Evidence of the former Existence of Struthious 

 Birds distinct from the Dodo in the islands near Mauritius. By 

 H. E. Strickland, Esq., M.A. * 



It is well known that Leguat, a French Protestant refugee, who 

 for more than two years (from 1691 to 1693) resided in the island of 

 Rodriguez, near Mauritius, described a bird under the name of le 

 Solitaire, which Latham considered to be allied to, but distinct from, 

 the Dodo, and which Gmelin denominated Didus soUtarius. Later 

 authors have supposed Leguat's bird to be either altogether fictitious, 

 or to be founded on an imperfect description of the true Dodo, Didus 

 inept us, Linn., of whose former existence in the island of Mauritius 

 there is now no dispute. Considering, however, that Leguat was a 

 man of education, and that the rest of his narrative bears intrinsic 

 proofs of veracity, there is no reason to doubt the general accuracy 

 of his description of the Solitaire ; and if this be admitted, it follows 

 that his bird was distinct, generically as well as specifically, from the 

 Dodo. 



The Solitaire, as described and figured by Leguat, must have dif- 

 fered from the Dodo in the following respects : — 



1. The beak is stated to resemble that of a turkey, except in 

 being rather more curved. Leguat's figure corresponds with this 

 description, and exhibits a moderate-sized gallinaceous-formed beak, 

 totally unlike that which we know the Dodo to have possessed. 



2. The Solitaire is said to have had hardly any tail, whereas the 

 Dodo was depicted with an arched tail, like that of the ostrich. 



3. The Solitaire is said to be longer in the leg (" plus haut mon- 

 tee") than a turkey, while the Dodo was a very short-legged bird, 

 as shown by the specimens in the British and Oxford Museums. 



4. The Solitaire carried its neck erect, and this member was said 

 to be longer in proportion than that of a turkey. But the Dodo is 

 depicted with a short, thick and curved neck, corresponding with the 

 massive proportions of its head. 



5. Though unable to fly, the wings of the Solitaii-e appear to have 

 been more developed than in the Dodo, as they were enlarged at the 

 end into a knob the size of a musket-ball, with which the bird at- 

 tacked its enemies. 



6. The female Solitaire is stated to have a kind of band (probably 

 composed of feathers) at the upper part of the beak, resembling a 

 widow's cap ; but in the Dodo the whole face was naked. 



It seems then sufficiently evident, that as late as the year 1693 the 

 island of Rodriguez was inhabited by a large species of bird distinct 

 from the Dodo of Mauritius, and now exterminated. This bird was 

 unable to fly ; and Leguat, who gives a minute description of its 

 habits, mentions the remarkable circumstance that it lays one e^g 

 on a heap of jjalm-leaves a foot and a half high, a character which 

 possibly indicates an affinity to Tulegalla and the Megapodiin^ of 

 Australia. 



* From the Proceedings of the Zoological Society, April 23, 1844. 



