GALLINACEOUS BIRDS. 17I 



The subject remained in this state till 1862, when Dr. Bennett communicated liis observations on 

 this Pigeon to the Sydney Morning Herald. This communication was subsequently published in the 

 Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, from which the follo\ving account is taken :— 



" The Rev. John B. Stair," says Dr. Bennett, who formerly resided for some time at the Navigator 

 group of islands, which are believed to be the exclusive habitat of this singular bird, " infomied 

 the Secretary of the Acclimatisation Society of Victoria that it is named by the natives Alanua-mea 

 or Red Bird, from the predominant colour of its plumage being chocolate-red. It was formerly 

 numerous, and therefore we may be surprised that it should not have been seen and procured by the 

 early navigators. Now it is nearly extinct. It feeds on plantains, and is partial to the fruit of the soi, 

 a species of Dioscorea, or yam, a twining plant abundant in these islands, and producing a fruit 

 resembling a small potato. In disposition it is exceedingly shy and timid. Like the Ground Pigeons, it 

 roosts on bushes or stumps of trees, and feeds on the ground ; it also builds its nest in such situations. 

 During the breeding season both parents aid in the work of incubation, relieve each other mth great 

 regularity, and are so intent on the performance of their duty that when sitting on the eggs they may 

 be easily captured by hand. Two living birds were obtained in this way by Mr. Stair. They are also 

 taken by the natives with birdlime or springes, and shot with arrows, the sportsman concealing himself 

 near an open space in which a quantity of the soi, their favourite food, had been placed." 



" The first living bird obtained was accidentally killed ; the second, when placed in confinement, 

 was sullen, and refused food, but soon became reconciled to captivity, and throve well. The natives 

 fed it upon boiled taro (the root of the Caladium esculentum), rolled into oblong pellets, in the same 

 manner as they fed their pet Wood Pigeons and Doves. The power of wing of most of the Pigeon 

 tribe is very great, a circumstance which also obtains in this bird. It flies through the air witli a loud 

 noise, like the Top-knot Pigeon (Lopholaimiis antarcticus), of the Illawarra district, and many other 

 of the Australian Pigeons; and Mr. Stair describes it as making so great a noise with its wings on 

 rising, that when heard at a distance it resembles the rumbling of distant thunder, for which it 

 might be mistaken." 



In a second communication, made to the same society, by Dr. Bennett, in 1S63, he speaks of 

 another living specimen of this rare bird brought to Sidney by Mr. Williams. " It was," he says, " at 

 first rather shy and wild, but afterwards became more tame, and manifested but little fear ; this feeling 

 was, however, occasionally exhibited by the utterance of rapid ' coos,' and by fluttering its wings. It 

 is a stupid-looking bird, and has no particular attraction except in the anomalous and extraordinary 

 form of the beak, which cannot fail to attract the attention of the most ordinary observers. The only 

 sound it utters is a quick ' coo-coo-coo,' the beak being always open when the sounds are emitted. 

 The bird was captured about five miles from Apia, in the Island of Upola ; it is evident, therefore, that 

 a few still remain there. It is, however, agreed by every one with whom I have conversed who has 

 resided at the Navigators' Islands, that it is nearly extinct, both from being eaten by the natives, as 

 well as owing to the attacks of cats, rats, and other vermin. Its food consisted at first of boiled yams, 

 but it will eat bananas, apples, bread, and boiled potatoes." 



In a third paper, read by Dr. Bennett in 1864 at a meeting of the Zoological Society, he says; — 

 " In the contour of the bill, the form and position of the nostrils, and several other characters, the 

 Didunculus differs from any other living species yet known. Although a smaller bird, it approximates 

 in all its characters to the extinct Dodo, and, like it, combines the characters of a rapacious bird with 

 those of the harmless Pigeon. Although the mandibles are powerful, yet the beak is never used as 

 an offensive weapon, for when the hand is placed in the cage, or the bird is seized for remo\ai 

 from one cage to another, it never attempts to bite, but, on the contrar}', is so timid that, after 

 fluttering about or running into a dark corner, it soon becomes subdued and is easily taken.'' 



