186 MR. W. J. BRODERIP ON THE DODO. 



the neighbourhood of tidal rivers and estuaries, may be seen availing themselves of the 

 smaller mollusca and Crustacea left by the retreating tide. 



In my article " Struthionidae'," under the section " Didus," is inserted the following 

 extract from a letter written to me by Professor Owen : — 



" Whilst at the Hague in the summer of 1848, I was much struck with the minute- 

 ness and accuracy with which the exotic species of animals had been painted by Savery 

 and Breughel, in such subjects as Paradise, Orpheus charming the beasts, &c., in which 

 scope was allowed for grouping together a great variety of animals. Understanding that 

 the celebrated menagerie of Prince Maurice had afforded the living models to those 

 artists, I sat down one day before Savery's Orpheus and the beasts, to make a list of 

 the species, which the picture evinced that the artist had had the opportunity to study 

 alive. Judge of my surprise and pleasure in detecting in a dark corner of the picture 

 (which is badly hung between two windows), the Dodo beautifully finished, showing for 

 example, though but three inches long, the auricular circle of feathers, the scutation of 

 the tarsi, and the loose structure of the caudal plumes. In the number and proportions 

 of the toes and in general form, it accords with Edwards's oil-painting in the British 

 Museum ; and I conclude that the miniature must have been copied from the study of 

 a living bird, which it is most probable formed part of the Mauritian menagerie." 



I little thought, when, with his permission, I published tliis graphic product of my 

 kind friend's pen, what was in store for me. Not long afterwards, a friend informed me 

 that he had seen a picture at a dealer's painted by one of the Saverys, and that he was 

 pretty sure there was a Dodo in one corner of it. I sent for the picture, and there, sure 

 enough, in the right-hand corner, and consequently to the left of the spectator, was the 

 bird, in all the beauty of its ugliness. The Dodo stands on one foot with its back to 

 the spectator, and turning round its head, which is represented with the huge bill 

 picking the other uplifted foot. Like all the rest of the birds in this picture, which 

 bears the name of Roland Savery, the Dodo is highly finished. The picture is now in 

 my possession. The accompanying plate (Plate LIV.) is a faithful copy of the bird as 

 represented in it. 



' Penny Cyclopaedia, vol. xxiii. (1842). 



