THE 
NATURAL HISTORY 
OF THE 
DODO, SOLITAIRE, &. 
CURLANIPUMI SB TEE 
The Brevyipennate Bird of Mauritius, the Dopo, (Didus ineptus of Linnzus.) 
Suction L.—Division of the sulject—Historical evidences—Discovery of the Istands—Voyage of Van Neck ; 
of Heemskerk and Willem—Dodo’s leg at Leyden—Voyage of Matelief ; of Van der Hagen ; of Ver- 
huffen ; of Van den Broecke ; of Herbert ; of Cauche—Dodo exhibited in London—Account given by 
Tradescant ; by Piso; by Hubert ; by Olearius—Harry’ s Voyage—Extinction of the Dodo—Negative 
character of modern evidence. 
Mosr persons are acquainted with the general facts connected with that extraordinary 
production of Nature, known by the name of the Dodo,—that strange abnormal Bird, whose 
grotesque appearance, and the failure of every effort made for the last century and a half to 
discover living specimens, long caused its very existence to be doubted by scientific naturalists. 
We possess, however, unquestionable evidence that such a bird formerly existed in the small 
Island of Mauritius, and it is ascertained with no less certainty that the species has been 
utterly extermimated for a period of nearly two centuries. 
The evidences which we possess respecting the Dodo, may be conveniently arranged on 
the plan adopted by Mr. Broderip, in his valuable essay on the subject, by dividing them 
into historical, pictorial, and real. 
' Penny Cyclopzedia vol. ix. p. 47. 
D 
