124 ON THE EXTINCT BIEDS OF 



But not among these alone has the " Degenerate Dove " attracted 

 attention. Time would fail me, and space be wanting, to enumerate the 

 authors who have devoted their pens, their talents, and their energies to 

 elucidate the history of this highly favoured Pigeon. Following in such 

 steps, bold indeed is the endeavour to capture and retain the attention of the 

 readers of this work, and to direct it to the Didine quarter, perhaps harder 

 than it was to seize and devour the unhappy victim in his native Mauritius— 

 a consummation, alas! but too eagerly and completely accomplished. 



The Mascarene Islands have been divided by Messrs. Alfred and Edward 

 iVewton (Ibis, 1876, 3rd ser. vol. vi. p. 281) into three groups :— " (1) The 

 Seychelles; (2) Mauritius and Reunion (formerly Bourbon) — which, from 

 their proximity, should be taken together, though there is much difference in 

 the ornis of each ; and (3) Rodriguez.'' 



Mr. J. Caldwell (P. Z. S. 1875, p. 645), speaking of the last, says :— 

 " Geologically, the island is very similar to Mauritius, of basaltic origin ; but 

 a large portion of the south-western part is composed of very ancient 

 upheaved coral, abounding in fissures and caverns, large and small.'' 



The account by this gentleman of a cavern containing bones of a 

 Solitaire is highly interesting, and should be read. 



Before saying more, it may be well to allude to the proper mode of 

 writing the name of '' the very strange fowle called ye Do Do ;" and this will 

 be best done by inserting a letter of my own to ' The Field ' of October 10th, 

 1874, on Edwards's oil-painting in the British Museum, which bears the 

 following inscription:— '' The Do Do, and given by G. Edwards, F.R.S., 

 A.D. 1759." On the frame is placed the two words '^Do Do." 



This separation into two parts, with capitals, as written above, was for 

 a long time an enigma to me. Two letters, however, on the subject, in the 

 possession of Mr. J. B. Wilmot, M.D., written from the Mauritius, June 18th, 

 1628, by Emanuell Altham, addressed to his brother. Sir Edward Altham, 



