58 EVIDENCES OF BREVIPENNATE [Parr I. 
Bontekoe appears to have considered these birds identical with the Dodos of Mauritius, 
and the slowness of pace and shortness of leg, which his description implies, hardly agree 
with what we know of these Bourbon birds. But as we have no other proof of the existence 
of the Dodo in Bourbon, and as Bontekoe’s account must have been written from memory 
(for his ship was afterwards blown up, and he was the sole survivor), we must not look for 
scientific accuracy in his statement. The probability is, that when he in after years compiled 
the narrative of his perilous adventures, having a recollection of a large brevipennate bird in 
Bourbon, whose tameness rendered it an easy prey to his sailors, he concluded it to be the 
Dodo, and adopted the name and descriptions of that bird which had been given by previous 
navigators. 
3. We have next to notice the narrative of a Frenchman, named Carré, who visited 
Bourbon in 1668, and relates as follows :— 
“ Vay vii dans ce lieu une sorte d’ oiseau que je n’ay point trouvé ailleurs: c’est celuy que les 
habitans ont nommé I’ Oiseau Solitaire, parce qu’ effectivement il aime la solitude, et ne se plait que 
dans les endroits les plus écartez; on n’ en a jamais vi deux ni plusieurs ensemble; il est toujours 
seul. Il ne ressembleroit pas mal 4 un Coq d’Inde, sil n’avoit pomt les jambes plus hautes. La 
beauté de son plumage fait plaisir 4 voir. C’est une couleur changeante qui tire sur le jaune. La 
chair en est exquise : elle fait un des meilleurs mets de ce pais-la, et pourroit faire les délices de nos 
tables. Nous voulumes garder deux de ces oiseaux pour les envoyer en France, et les faire présenter 
a Sa Majesté; mais aussi-tOt qu’ils furent dans le Vaisseau, ils moururent de melancolie, sans vouloir 
ni boire ni manger.”—Voyages des Indes Orientales par M. Carré, 2 vols. 12mo. vol i. p. 12. See 
also Prevost, Hist. Gén. des Voyages, vol. ix. p. 3. 
Translation :— 
“T here saw a kind of bird which [ have not found elsewhere: it is that which the inhabitants call 
the Oiseau Solitaire, for, in fact, it loves solitude, and only frequents the most secluded places. One 
never sees two or more of them together; they are always alone. It is not unlike a Turkey, were it 
not that its legs are longer. The beauty of its plumage is delightful to behold. It is a changeable 
colour, which verges upon yellow. The flesh is exquisite; it forms one of the best dishes in this 
country, and might form a dainty at our tables. We wished to keep two of these birds to send to 
France and present them to His Majesty, but as soon as they were on board ship, they died of melan- 
choly, having refused to eat or drink.” 
It will be observed that Tatton describes these birds as white. Carré’s expression, 
“une couleur changeante qui tire sur le jaune,” is rather vague, but seems to imply a pale 
yellowish or cream-coloured tint, which another author might easily have described as white. 
At any rate there seems no reasonable doubt that Tatton and Carré both described the same 
species of bird. 
4. In the year after Carré’s visit, a French colony was sent from Madagascar to Bourbon 
under M. de la Haye. One of the party, who calls himself the Sieur D. B., has left an 
interesting account of the expedition. His journal is contained in a MS., given by Mr. Telfair 
