Cu. II.] OF THE SOLITAIRE. 49 
landscape (see plate IV.) and two maps which accompany the work, no less than twenty- 
eight small figures of Solitaires are introduced, all of which very closely correspond with the 
enlarged representation here exhibited. 
Besides the above lengthened description, Leguat alludes to these birds in several other 
passages. One of these is very important, as supplying the only testimony extant as to the 
food of any member of the sub-family Didine. 
“The Plantane is a sort of Palm-tree. . . . . . The dates of the Plantane are bigger than 
those of the Palm-tree. Having abundance of better things to feed on, Fish and Flesh, Fruits, &c., 
we left the dates for the Turtles and other birds, particularly the So/itaries, of which we shall 
hereafter make mention.” pp. 60, 61. 
The statement that the Solitaire lays but one egg, and that its nest is a heap of palm- 
leaves, is very interesting, as Cauche makes a similar assertion regarding the Dodo (supra, p. 22). 
Leguat repeats his statement in another place. Speaking of Sea-Fowl, he says :— 
“They lay three times a year, and but one egg at a time, like the So/itaries: which is the more 
remarkable for that if Iam not mistaken,! we have no example of anything hke it among our 
European Birds.” p. 80. 
' He was mistaken, however, for the European Petrels, the Gannet, and most of the Alcide lay only a single egg, 
