6 BIEDS. 



BIRDS RECENTLY EXTIRPATED. 



The Dodo {Didus ineptus), discovered by Mascaregnas in Mauritius in the 

 beginning of the sixteenth century, a large bird, clumsy, flightless, and defence- 

 less, but allied to the Pigeons. Also Aphanapteryx, a EallLne bird, abnormal, 

 flightless, and long-billed. 



The Solitaire of Eeunion, allied to the Dodo and the Solitaire of Kodrigues, a 

 Didine bird, but not so large as the Mauritian Dodo. 



In the Antilles eight out of fourteen kinds have probably become extinct. 



The Garefowl or Great Auk {A. impennis), nearly allied to the Razor Bill 

 {A. tarda), but flightless and about twice as big, seems to have become extinct 

 since 1844, in which year the last two were taken on the rocky islet, Fuglasker, 

 or Fowlskerries, S.W. of Iceland. But it was in the Newfoundland seas this 

 Penguin, or "Pinwing," was most abundant. In 1536, English and French 

 mariners killed these birds for food, and the practice was carried on till 1785, 

 when Cartwright foresaw their speedy extirpation. 



The Labrador Duck {Anas Idbradora), nearly allied to the Eiders, seems also 

 doomed, for the last known was killed by Colonel Wedderburn in Halifax in 

 1852. The Philip Island Parrot (Nestor productus), peculiar to the New Zealand 

 subregion, has also become extinct. 



BIRDS PARTIALLY EXTERMINATED. 



The Common Crane in 1555 was breeding in the fens. The Spoonbill in 1688 

 bred in Suffolk. The Capercailzie (T. urogallus) frequented the pine forests of 

 Ireland and Scotland till about 1760, but the species has been successfully 

 introduced from Sweden into Scotland during the last fifty years. The Bustard 

 vanished from Norfolk in 1838. All these four species were protected to a 

 certain degree by Acts of Parliament, but these laws only gave immunity to their 

 eggs, and none to the parent birds during the breeding season, thus showing how 

 futile is the former when compared with the latter, since there are very many 

 species whose nests from time out of mind have been and are yearly pillaged 

 without any disastrous consequences arising from the practice. The singular 

 wisdom of the old command (Deut. xxii. 6, 7), the most ancient " game law " 

 (using the term in its widest sense) in existence, has here a curious exemplification. 



(iii.) The Carinat^, having the sternum or breast-bone with a, keel, 



All existing birds which do not belong to the Ratitm, greatly as they differ 

 externally, have so much in common in their structure that they are included in 

 one great division, named CAEiNATiE, because their sternum or breast-bone carries 

 a median projecting ridge called the keel {carina). This keel forms a very 

 obvious feature in the skeleton, as it affords a surface for the attachment of the 

 great breast-muscles which move the wings in flying ; its development is more or 

 less in proportion to the exercise of this faculty. It should be noted that in 

 some few birds (the Parrot, Stringops; the Rail-like bird, Notomis; and the 

 Hoatzin, Opisthocomus) belonging to several different subdivisions of this great 



