DIDUS INEPTUS. Linn. 
DODO. 
I T is now nearly two centuries since a living specimen of this strange production of nature has been seen ; and the 
only proofs which scientists have, beyond the records of history, of its having existed, are a few fragmentary remains 
contained in some of the European museums, the most perfect ot which is a head preserved in the Ashmolcan Museum 
at Oxford. 
However, there is no doubt that at one time this huge, unwieldy species inhabited the islands of Mauritius and 
Bourbon, and was still abundant there as late as 1681, when the island was visited by one Benj. Harry. This record, 
according to Mr. H E. Strickland (“Dodo Solitaire," etc., p. 26), is contained in the British Museum (Sloane MSS., 3668 
Pint. cxi. F), and is entitled “A Coppey of Mr. Benj. Harry’s Journal wfien he was chief mate of the Shippe Berckley 
Castle, Captn. Wm, Talbot then commander, on a voyage to the Coste and Bay 1679 which voyage they wintered at 
the Maurrisshes.” 
He says, “The journal is little more than a ship’s log, containing many rough observations] perhaps valuable, of a 
brilliant comet. They left Deptford 19th November, 1679, and on their return from India, being unable to weather the 
Cape of Good Hope, they determined to make for ‘the Marushes’ the 4th of June, 1681. They saw land on the 3d ot 
July, and on the 1 ith they began to build huts; and they had much labor in spreading their cargo out to dry.” 
“After all these turmoyles and various accidents we the beginning 7 ber brought all to a period: one parte of our 
misery was that that time we designed for recreation we were forct to impt. in Labour. The ayre whilst we have been 
here hath been very temperate neither over hott nor over cold : itt hath been showery 3 or 4 Days sucksessivelv, and 
showery in the night sometimes a Sea Brecs little wind morning and evenings. 
“ Now having a little respitt I will make a little description of the Island, first of its Producks then of itts parts : ffirst 
of winged and feathered ffowlc the less passant, are Dodos whose flesh is very hard , a small sort of Gees, reasonably good 
Teele, Curleves, Pasca ffiemingos, Turtle Doves, large Batts, many small Birdes which are good. 
“The Dutch pleading a propriety to the Island because ot their settlement have made us pay for goates id per pound 
or 1/2 piece of 8 per head, the which goates are butt reasonably good, these wild, as allso the Deer which are as large as 
I believe any in the world, and as good fflesh in their seasons ; for these 3 pie. of 8 per head, Bullocks large 6 pie. of 8 per 
head ; [that] ys for victualling, heer are many wild hoggs and land turtle which are very good, other small creators on the 
Land, as Scorpions and Musketoes, these in small numbers, Ratts and ffleys a multitude, Munkeys of various sorts. 
“ In the woodes Eaboney, Box, Iron wood blacke and read, a false but not lasting fire, various sortes of other wood, 
though heavy yett good for fieri ng*. 
“In ye Sea and River, green tortoise very good, Shirkes, Doggs, Mulletts, Jackabeirs (butt nott good though some 
70 lb), Breams, Pomfletts, Plaise, a ffishe like a Salmond, and heer soe called but full of small Boanes forked, severall sortes 
of read ffish butt nott houlsome, various sortes of small ffish for the Pann, good oysters and Crabes, Ells large and good. 
“Herbage ffruite and Graine, ffrench or Cidney Beanes, Potatoes, sallating; Pumplemuses, oranges, Jumboes, Watter 
and musk Melones, Sugar Cannes, Pumkines, Tobacco that Hellish weed, and many other things forgotten.” 
The first authentic account of the Dodo is supposed to have been given by one Jacob Cornelius Van Neck, a Dutch 
navigator, who visited Mauritius in 1598, and finding it uninhabited, took possession of it. Many birds were found on the 
island ; one of which was of strange appearance, and which they called “ Walckvogel ” (disgusting birds), and described 
as about the size of a Swan, having a larger head, with a sort of hood, wings replaced by a few black quills, and the tail 
represented by four or five grayish plumes. 
Not having access to the manuscript, I again refer to Mr. Strickland’s work on the Dodo, where he quotes Sir Harnon 
Lestrange’s account of seeing a live bird of this species (Sloane MSS. 1839, 5- P- 9)- 
“About 1638 as I walked London streets, I saw the picture of a strange fowle hong out upon a cloth [hiatus in the 
MS.] and myself with one or two more then in company went In to see it. It was kept in a chamber, and was a great fowle 
somewhat bigger than the largest Turkey Cock, and so legged and footed, but shorter and thicker and of a more erect 
shape, coloured before like the breast of a young cock fesan, and on the back of dunn or deare coulour. The keeper 
