140 DR. G. BENNETT ON THE DIDUNCULUS, [ Mar. 22, 
The Dodo also inhabited a very limited space of land, as the remains 
of that bird and allied genera have only been found on the small 
islands of the Mauritius, Bourbon, and Rodriguez. The Didunculus 
may therefore be regarded as the nearest living ally of the extinct Dodo. 
Although the mandibles of the Didunculus are powerful in structure, 
yet the beak is never used as an offensive weapon ; for when the hand 
is placed in the cage, or the bird is seized for removal from one cage 
to another, it never attempts to bite the agressor, but, on the con- 
trary, is so timid, that after fluttering about or running into a dark 
corner of the cage in its efforts to escape, it soon becomes subdued 
and is easily taken. 
In all the families of Pigeons a diversity in the form of the beak 
is found. In the Fruit-eating Pigeon the beak is stronger, stouter, 
and the corneous portion is strongly arched and compressed, bearing 
a great resemblance to the structure in certain rapacious birds; and 
this form of beak is carried to the greatest extent in the Didunculus, 
yet the living birds in captivity were never observed to crush hard 
seeds or nuts. They would nibble into minute bits the seeds of lo- 
quats, almonds, and hemp-seed, with the same action as observed in 
the Parrot tribe when feeding. When I first had the birds, boiled 
potatoes and stale bread formed their diet. The boiled potatoes 
were torn and swallowed in large pieces at a time, being soft; but 
the stale bread they would place their feet upon and tear with the 
hooked beak into small bits. A piece of apple was also eaten ; but 
the bananas placed in the cage were never touched, although it is 
said that in a wild state they live on berries, and are very fond of the 
mountain-plantain. Both the birds were regularly fed twice daily— 
early in the morning and about four in the afternoon. It was sup- 
posed at one time that these birds did not drink water ; but I soon 
found that this assertion was incorrect. 
It was early in June 1863 that the first Didunculus arrived at 
Sydney; and on the 15th of that month and following days I exa- 
mined the bird, which I found in good health, very timid, and a 
young bird in immature plumage, and the teeth of the lower man- 
dibles not yet developed. It was about the size of the Nicobar Pi- 
geon, but rounder and more plump in form. It kept steadily looking 
at me during the time I was examining it, uttering occasionally a 
plaintive coo, coo, coo, or goo, goo, goo. This bird had been cap- 
tured on the island of Upolu, not more than five miles from the set- 
tlement of Apia, by a native. It has now been in captivity for some 
time, and is considered to be at this time (January 1864) two years 
old. It has attained the full plumage of the adult bird, and the 
teeth of the lower mandibles are also fully developed. When any 
one approaches the cage, it will sometimes retire to an obscure corner, 
and at other times will remain quiet on the perch, watching atten- 
tively every movement of the spectator, and occasionally changing its 
position. It invariably feeds in the light, but will not do so if any 
one is present; the only opportunity we had of observing its mode 
of feeding was through the window, when the bird was placed in 
the verandah of the house, when we could watch its actions with- 
