Cu. I.] OF THE DODO. at | 
Such then is the sum of the Historical Evidence which we possess for the existence of 
this singular creature. In 1644 the Dutch first colonized the island of Mauritius, and it is 
probable that these gigantic fowls, deprived of flight, slow of foot, and useful for food, were 
speedily diminished in number, and finally exterminated by the thoughtless rapacity of the 
early colonists. Their destruction would be further hastened, or might be mainly caused, by 
the Dogs, Cats, and Swine which accompany Man in his migrations, and are speedily natura- 
lized in the forests. To such animals the eggs and young of the Dodo and other birds would 
be a dainty treat ; and that this is no mere conjecture is proved by Leguat, who tells us, 
“ Here, (in Mauritius,) are Hogs of the China kind... . . These beasts do a great deal of 
damage to the inhabitants, by devouring all the young animals they can catch.” —p.170, Eng. ed. 
That the destruction of the Dodos was completed by 1693, may be inferred from the 
narrative of Leguat, who in that year remained several months in Mauritius, and enumerates 
its animal productions at some length, but makes no mention whatever of Dodos. He further 
says, “ L’isle etait autrefois toute remplie d’Oyes et de Canards sauvages; de Poules d’eau, 
de Gelimottes, de Tortues de mer et de terre; mais tout cela est devenu fort rare.” This 
passage proves, that even in 1693, civilization had made great inroads on the fauna of 
Mauritius. 
In 1712 the Dutch evacuated Mauritius, and the French colonized the island under the 
new name of Isle de France. his change in the population will account for the absence of 
any traditionary knowledge of so remarkable a bird among the later inhabitants. All subse- 
quent evidence is equally negative. Baron Grant resided in Mauritius from 1740 to 1760 ; 
and his son, who compiled the “ History of Mauritius” from his papers, states (p. 145%) that 
no trace of such a bird was to be found at that time. M. Morel, a French official who resided 
there previously to 1778, and whose attention seems to have been drawn to the subject by the 
judicious criticisms of Buffon (Hist. Ois. vol. ii. p.73), tells us that the oldest inhabitants had no 
recollection of these creatures (Observations sur la Physique, 1778, vol. xii. p. 154). The late 
M. Bory de St. Vincent remained for some time in Mauritius and Bourbon in 1801, and has 
left an excellent work on the physical features of those islands (Voyage dans les quatre prin- 
cipales iles des Mers d’ Afrique). He assures us (vol. ii. p. 306) that he made every possible 
enquiry respecting the Dodo and its allies, without gaining the slightest information from the 
inhabitants on the subject. At a public dinner at the Mauritius in 1816, several persons from 
70 to 90 years of age were present, who had no knowledge of such a bird from recollection or 
tradition (De Blainville in Nouv. Ann. Mus. vol.iv. p.31). Mr. J. V. Thompson also resided 
for some years in Mauritius and Madagascar, previously to 1516, and he states that no more 
traces of the existence of the Dodo could then be found, than of the truth of the tale of Paul and 
Virginia, although a very general idea prevailed as to the reality of both (Mag. Nat. Hist. 
ser. 1, vol.ii. p.443). This list of negative witnesses may be closed with the late Mr. Telfair, 
a very active naturalist, whose researches were equally conclusive as to the non-existence of 
Dodos in Mauritius in modern times (Zool. Journ. vol. ii. p. 566). 
I 
