PIGEONS, 37 



Family I. Didid^. Dodos. (Plate II.) 



No more sti'iking illustration of adaptation to a ground-dMclling life [TaW^;- 

 can be found than that furnished by the Dodo (205) [PI. II.] and its ally pj^^^^g • 

 the Solitaire (206), both long since extinct. Remains of these now oases 10, 

 famous birds will he found in two of the Table-cases in this bay. Both -'^J 

 these relatively gigantic Pigeons were flightless, a condition probably due 

 to the fact that they lived on small islands uninhabited by man or other 

 enemies, and were able to procure food in abundance without resorting 

 to flight. As a result of this easy life the body gradually acquired a 

 greatly increased bulk, whilst the wings gradually decreased in size, 

 till flight at last became an impossibility. 



The Solitaire {Pezophaps solitarius) (206), thougb less well-inown 

 than the Dodo, was in some respects more remarkable, for the wings 

 of the males were armed with large bony knobs, apparently used as 

 weapons of offence. The Dodo {Didus ineptus) (205) inhabited the 

 island of Mauritius and the Solitaire that of Rodriguez, both in the 

 Indian Ocean. When these islands were first discovered by Europeans 

 both the Dodo and Solitaire existed in large numbers, but being unable 

 to protect themselves by flight, they were rapidly killed off for food ; 

 their extermination being accelerated by the introduction of dogs, cats, 

 and swine. Probably by the end of the 17th century not one of these 

 birds survived, and what we know of their external appearance is derived 

 from a few old paintings and from skeletons. One of the most 

 interesting paintings is exhibited in the adjoining Wall-case, and is a 

 portrait from life, painted in Holland by Roelandt Savery. This picture 

 was once the property of Sir Hans Sloane and given by him to George 

 Edwardes, P.R.S., who presented it to the British Museum in 1759. 



Family II. Didunculid^. Tooth-billed Pigeon. 



Besides the two extinct types just mentioned, there are many other [Casfs 19.] 

 species of Pigeons which have taken to a terrestrial life, and are hence 

 known as Ground-Pigeons. One of these is the Tooth-billed Pigeon 

 {Didunculus strigirostris) (207) of Samoa, which was reported to be 

 nearly extinct in 1863. It is now, however, said to be once more 

 increasing, having entirely changed its habits and taken to an arboreal 

 life. It feeds and roosts in the highest trees, and whereas it formerly 

 laid its single egg on the ground like the Dodo, it now builds its nest 

 in the branches. On account of its heavy bill, it bears some 

 resemblance to the Dodo, and is mainly on this account held by some 

 to be an ally of that extinct bird. 



