the Dodo ( Didus ineptus. ) 493 
resembles the pigeons. "The ends of the toes have not the 
enlargement for the reception of the claws which we see in 
all rapacious birds, but are precisely like those of the pigeons. 
Some facts mentioned in the accounts of the bird, given by 
the early authors, strongly corroborate my views with regard to 
it In the account of a voyage to the East Indies by Jacob Van 
Neek and Wybrand Van Warwijk, in 1598, they say, in 
speaking of this bird, that the meat of the breast was very 
good eating, though not so good as that of turtle-doves. 
De Bry, 1601, in his Descriptio Insule Do Cerne a nobis 
Mauritius dictze, says, speaking of the Dodos, “ Their bellies 
and breasts were nevertheless of a pleasant flavor, and easy 
of mastication.” 3 
Clusius, 1605, says, “ They reported that it is covered with 
thin and short feathers, and wants wings, instead whereof it 
hath only four or five long black feathers; that the hinder part 
of the body is very fat and fleshy, wherein for a tail were four 
or five small curled feathers, twirled up together, of an ash 
color.” They also reported that they found stones in the 
stomach, speaking of which he says, “and no wonder, for all 
other birds, as well as these, swallow stones to assist them in 
grinding their meat.” Clusius considered it gallinaceous, and 
called it *« Gallinaceus Gallus peregrinus." 
In the account of a voyage made by Jacob Heemskerk and 
Wolfert Harmansz, in the years 1601, 1602, 1603, published 
in 1648, “mention is made of the Dod-eersen which had 
small wings but could not fly, and were so fat that they 
scarcely could go.” | 
Thomas Herbert, 1634, says, His body is round and ex- 
tremely fat, the slowness of his walk agrees with his cor- 
pulence. The stomach has great activity, and digests easily 
Stones and iron.” l 
— Bontius, 1658, says, “it is a slow-paced and stupid bird, and 
Which easily becomes a prey to the fowler. The flesh, es- 
Pecially of the breast, is fat, esculent, and so copious that 
three or four Dodos will sometimes suflice to fill an hundred 
