6 INTRODUCTION. 
descriptions of unscientific voyagers, three or four oil paintings, and a few scattered osseous 
fragments, which have survived the neglect of two hundred years. The paleontologist has, 
in many cases, far better data for determining the zoological characters of a species which 
perished myriads of years ago, than those presented by a group of birds, several species: of 
which were living in the reign of Charles the First. 
We shall find it convenient to treat of each island, and of its ornithic productions, 
separately. And, first, of the best known and most celebrated of these creatures, the 
brevipeunate bird of Mauritius, the Dopo. 
Vezarcth 
Bank 
From din T {lbatross 
dntongt & 
Roy 
Mauritius 
a 
“7 Bourbon 
A | 
Fe Dauphin 
Delagea Bay + 
z “CS Mary 
Jf Port Natal 
y, \ 
aR Algen. Bay 
A Bf San Blaz 
