196 Bibliography. 



brium of a race of men in all other respects much superior to the Pa- 

 puan aborigines of the neighboring continent of Australia, and very- 

 little inferior to the Polynesian natives of the most favored islands of 

 the Pacific." 



In Volume xlvii, of this Journal, (page 313,) we have suggested 

 whether the enormous nests described by Cook and Flinders on the 

 coast of New Holland, did not indicate the existence at present of the 

 Dinornis. It will be seen in the present number of the Journal (p. 61) 

 that Prof. Owen does not fall in with such an opinion, and certainly for 

 strong reasons. We have another fact to state, bearing upon the same 

 point ; not wishing, however, to express an opinion how far it renders 

 probable the present existence of a species of Dinornis. Prof. Silliman 

 has just put into our hands " Jacobs' Scenes, Incidents, and Adventures 

 in the Pacific Ocean," &c., recently published ; referring us to a de- 

 scription in that work, of " a Doondoo hunt" on the island of New 

 Britain, or Bidera as Jacobs calls it, which lies near Papua, or New 

 Guinea, in about five degrees south latitude. In company with a hun- 

 dred native warriors, all completely armed for battle, Mr. Jacobs march- 

 ed towards the interior of the island for two days, and encamped amid 

 the high grass on an elevated plain. "At the break of day," says he, 

 (p. 267,) " I started up, perfectly bewildered at hearing all the warriors 

 shout at the top of their voices, ' Doondoo ! Doondoo !' while at the 

 same time they seized their spears and clubs and jumped to their feet. 

 I picked up my rifle and did the same. Two ferocious and monstrous 

 looking birds resembling the Ostrich, ran past us like race-horses, with 

 heads six feet above the ground, and apparently powerful enough to 

 knock down a man." The warriors threw their spears and clubs, and 

 one of them fired a musket in vain ; but the rifle of Jacobs brought one 

 of them to the ground. " We soon surrounded the Doondoo," says he ; 

 " he was a majestic bird, of a species between that of the Cassowary 

 and Ostrich. His head and beak were covered with a ribbed horny ex- 

 crescence, or coat of mail, that looked truly formidable, more especially 

 when mounted high in the air as the bird was running. His legs were 

 remarkably powerful, and the fleetness of these birds is so great that 

 the natives never attempt to pursue them. The natives find it difficult 

 to capture or kill the Doondoo, more especially when they attempt to 

 interfere with, or molest their nests, or young ; at these times they be- 

 come perfectly furious, and have been known to knock down natives 

 and kick them to death. The feathers, the beak, and the quills of the 

 Doondoo are considered of great value in Bidera. The first are worn 

 upon the heads of the chiefs, the second upon the breast, as an amulet, 

 and the latter pass for money ; so that for a certain number you can 

 buy any maiden for a wife that you fancy. So difficult do the Carwa- 



