1864. ] DR. G. BENNETT ON THE DIDUNCULUS. 139 
Member the Babu Rajendra Mullick, of Calcutta, of the following 
living animals :— 
Eleven Shawl-Goats of the diminutive Cashmere breed, which was 
believed not to have been previously introduced into this country. - 
Four Rufous-tailed Pheasants (Luplocamus erythrophthalmus), 
one male and two females. 
One pair of Crowned Pigeons (Goura coronata). 
Three Nicobar Pigeons (Calenas nicobarica). 
Ten Green-winged Doves (Chalcophaps indica). 
Five Barred Turtledoves (Geopelia striata). 
Six Dwarf Turtledoves (Turtur humilis). 
Two Indian Turtledoves (Turtur gelastes). 
Four Porphyrios (Porphyrio smaragnotus). 
Five Bengal Chikor Partridges (Perdix gularis). 
Four Francolins (Francolinus vulgaris). 
Two Indian Grey Partridges (Perdix ponticeriana). 
These birds had been safely transmitted to this country by the 
Overland Mail, under arrangements concluded by the Council with 
J. J. Stone, Esq. 
Mr. Leadbeater exhibited a series of antlers of the Cariboo Rein- 
deer of North America (Tarandus rangifer), which had been pre- 
sented to H. R. H. the Prince of Wales during his travels in Canada. 
The following papers were read :— 
1. Notes on THE DIDUNCULUS STRIGIROSTRIS, OR ToOOTH- 
BILLED Pigeon. By Dr. Greorce BENNETT. 
Having fortunately obtained by purchase a living pair of those 
singular and rare birds, the Tooth-billed Pigeon (Didunculus strigi- 
rostris), which had been brought from the Samoan or Navigators’ 
Islands to Sydney, New South Wales, an opportunity has been af- 
forded to me of attentively watching their habits in captivity. To 
guard against the event also of these valuable birds dying, I availed 
myself of the services of Mr. C. Thomas, who made an accurate draw- 
ing of them from life in their most natural attitudes ; and his drawing 
conveys an excellent idea of the peculiar expression of these remark- 
able birds when alive. I have sent a tracing of this drawing for in- 
sertion in the ‘ Illustrated London News ;’ and should the bird now 
on its way to England die, I shall be able to send the Society an ac- 
curate coloured representation of the living birds. The Didunculus, 
like the Dodo, has a very limited range, having only been found in- 
habiting the Samoan or Navigators’ Islands. In the contour of the 
bill, the form and position of the nostrils, and several other charac- 
ters, the Didunculus differs from any other living species at present 
known; and, although a smaller bird in size, it approximates the 
nearest in all its characters to the extinct Dodo, and, like it, combines 
the character of a rapacious bird with that of the harmless Pigeon. 
