Dr. G. Bennett on Didunculus strigirostris. 259 



Nov. 10, 1863.— E. W. H. Holdsworth, Esq., F.Z.S., in the Chair. 



The Secretary read several communications addressed to him by 

 Dr. George Bennett, F.Z.S., respecting the arrival of specimens of 

 Didunculus strigirostris in Sydney. The first of these, dated June 

 18th, 1863, contained the following notes on this subject : — 



" In the early part of June 1863 a living Didunculus was brought 

 to Sydney by Mr. J. WiUiams from Apia, Upolu, one of the group 

 of the Navigator Islands ; and on the 15th of June and the following 

 days I had several opportunities of examining the bird. At first it 

 seemed rather shy and wild, but afterwards it became more tame, 

 and I could examine it without its manifesting any fear. It is about 

 the size of a Nicobar Pigeon (Calcenas nicobarica), but rather bulkier 

 and rounder in form. Its plumage was not in good condition, owing 

 to its having been recently confined in a cage on board ship, but it 

 appeared healthy. This specimen, I should say, was a young bird 

 with immature plumage, and the tooth of the lower mandible not 

 yet developed. When I first examined it, the bird showed its fear 

 by occasionally uttering some rapid 'coos' and by fluttering in its 

 cage, but it subsequently became quite tame. It was captured, on 

 the Island of Upolu, after being wounded in the wing, and was sold 

 by a native to Mr. Williams. It has now been in captivity about 

 nine months, and is kept in a cage, which is merely a box with rails 

 in front, like a hen-coop. Here it can run on the floor, or sit on a 

 low perch, or conceal itself in the corners, as it is particularly fond 

 of doing, where, with its dark-coloured plumage, it cannot readily 

 be distinguished. When disturbed, it would move gently and timidly 

 across the cage, affording an excellent opportunity to the observer 

 of examining it. It is a stupid-looking bird, and has no particular 

 attraction, except the anomalous and extraordinary form of the beak, 

 which cannot fail to excite the attention of the most ordinary spec- 

 tator. The only sound it utters is the quick ' Coo-coo-coo,' to which 

 I have already alluded, the beak being always a little open when the 

 notes were emitted. The whole of its plumage is of a chocolate-red 

 colour, deeper in tint on the back, tail, and the primaries and secon- 

 daries of the wings, the throat, breast, and wing-coverts being barred 

 with light brown. The upper part of the head was rather bare, 

 from the feathers having been rubbed off ; but what remained were 

 of a dark slate-colour. The base of the beak is orange-red, and the 

 rest of the mandibles of a yellowish hue. The tarsi are not fea- 

 thered ; and the legs and feet are of a bright orange-red, similar in 

 colour to those of the Kagu. The irides are dark reddish brown, 

 and the cere round the eyes is flesh-colour. The bird is fed upon 

 boiled rice, yams, and potatoes." 



Dr. Bennett's second letter, dated July 18th, contained the fol- 

 lowing additional particulars : — 



" I have to add to my account of the bird sent last mail that this 

 bird was captured within five miles of Apia, Island of Upolu ; so 

 that the bird is not yet quite extinct in that island, as has been 



