OSTEOLOGY OF THE DODO. 53 



varying somewhat in size. With the bones of the Dodo were the end of the lower jaw 

 of a broad-billed Parrot, two bones (radius) of a small Mammal, and part of the skull of 

 a large Tortoise'. 



To the description of the Dodo's bones I now proceed. 



§ 2. Yertehrw. 

 The dorsal vertebrae are chiefly represented, in this series of bones, by three which are 

 anchylosed together by their bodies and neural arches (PL XVII. figs. 1-5) : the posterior 

 articular surface of the body of the last of these vertebrae (ib., fig. 4, c) is subquadrate, 

 longer in the vertical than the transverse dii-ection, concave vertically, convex trans- 

 versely, almost fitting, but being rather too small for, the anterior articular surface of 

 the body of the first of the sacral series (PI. XIX. fig. 1, c). The difference is such as 

 to indicate that only one dorsal vertebra may have intervened ; and I conclude that 

 the last of the three coalesced vertebrae is the penultimate dorsal. The anterior arti- 

 cular surface of the foremost of the three (PI. XVI. fig. 1, c) is 11 lines in transverse, 

 and 4 to 5 lines in vertical diameter : it is concave transversely for the middle three- 

 fifths, and convex transversely at the two outer fifths of its extent : it is more or less 

 convex vertically throughout its extent. The bodies of these vertebrae are compressed 

 and wedged-shaped, slightly expanded at their coalesced ends, produced below into 

 subquadrate hypapophyses in the first and second (PI. XVII. fig. 1, Jiy) ; while this 

 process is restricted to the fore part (ib. liy 3), or may be represented only by a slight 

 anterior production of the lower edge of the wedge, in the thii-d (ib. fig. 5, hy 3). 



(in the ' Proceedings of the Zoological Society,' Januai-y 9th, 1866) as destined " to be published entire in the 

 Society's Transactions," and therefore necessarily awaiting the lithographing of " illustrations," which every true 

 promoter of science for its own sake must have desired to see as complete as the best-selected materials would 

 permit to be given. — K. 0., June 1866. 



' In the quaint print, in foHo 3, of the " Narration Historique du A''oiage faict par les huict Navires d' Am- 

 sterdam au mois de Mars I'An 1-598. soubs la conduitte de I'admiral Jaqnes CorueiUe Necq," &c., the first- 

 named object, No 1, " Sont Tortues qui se tiennent sur I'haut pays, frustez d' aisles pour nage, de telle grandeur, 

 qu'ils chargent ung homme et rampent encore fort roidement, prennent aussi des Ecriuisses de la grandeur d'un 

 pied qu'ils mcngent. 2. Est ung oiseau, par nous nomme Oiseau de Nausee, h. I'instar d'une Eigne, ont le eul 

 rond, convert de deux ou trois plumettcs crespues, carent des aisles, mais en lieu d'iecUes ont ilz trois ou 

 quatre plumettes noires, des susdicts oiseaux avons nous prins une certaine quantite, accompaigne d'aucunes 

 tourtureUes et autres oiseaux, qui par noz compaignons furet prins, la premiere fois qu'il arrivoyent au pays, 

 pour chercher la plus profonde et plus fraisohe Eiviere, et si les navires y pourroyent estre sauvez, ct retour- 

 nerent d'une grande joye, distribuaut chasque navire, de leur Venoison prins, dont nous partismes le lendemain 

 vers le port, foumismes chasque navire d'un POote de ceux qui au paravant y avoyent este, avons cuict cest 

 oiseau, estoit si coriace que ne le povions asses boviUer, mais I'avons menge a demy era. Si tost qu'arrivames 

 au port, envoya le Vice- Admiral nous, avecq une certaine troupe au pays, pour trouver aucun pcuple, mais 

 n'ont trouve personne, que des Tourtui-elles et autres en grande abondance, lesquels nous prismes et tuames, 

 car veu qu'il n'y eust personne qui les efiraia, n'avoient Uz de nous nuUe crainte, tindret lieu, se laisserent 

 assomer. En some c'est un pays abodant en poisso et oiseaux, voire tcllemet qu'il excella tous les autres 

 audit voyage." — Le Second Livre de la Navigation des Indes OrientaUs, fol., 1601. 



