172
DIDUS CUCULLATUS(L.)
DODO.
(Plates 24, 24a, 24b, 24c.)
- Walchvoghel Van Neck, Voy., p. 7, pl. 2 (1601).
- Walchvögel De Bry, Orient. Ind. pt. VIII, t. 11 (1606).
- Gallinaceus gallus peregrinus Clusius, Exot. Libr. V p. 99 t. 100 (1605).
- Dod-eersen or Valgh-vogel Herbert's travels 1st ed. (1634) t. page 212.
- Cygnus cucullatus Nieremberg, Nat p. 231 (with fig. ex. Clus.) (1635).
- Dronte Bontius, Ind. Orient t. p. 70 (1658).
- Raphus Moehring, Av. gen. 57 (1752).
- Dodo Edwards, Glean. Nat Hist. III p. 179 pl. 296 (1757).
- Struthio cucullatus Linn., S. N. I p. 155 No. 4 (1758).
- Didus ineptus Linn., S. N. I p. 267 No. 1 (1766).
The first description of this very remarkable bird was given in the account of the voyage of Admiral Jacob van Neck in 1598, which was published by Corneille Nicolas at Amsterdam in 1601. It is as follows:—"Blue parrots are very numerous there, as well as other birds; among which are a kind, conspicuous for their size, larger than our swans, with huge heads only half covered with skin as if clothed with a hood. These birds lack wings, in the place of which 3 or 4 blackish feathers protrude. The tail consists of a few soft incurved feathers, which are ash coloured. These we used to call 'Walghvögel,' for the reason that the longer and oftener they were cooked, the less soft and more insipid eating they became. Nevertheless their belly and breast were of a pleasant flavour and easily masticated."
In a large number of works on travel and voyages published in the 17th and 18th Centuries we find all sorts of notices about the Dodo, and numerous pictures of which I have given outline drawings. From these sources it appears that the Dodo became extinct about the end of the 17th Century, i.e., 1680-1690. The causes of the extermination of this, perhaps the best known and most talked about of the recently extinct birds, are not far to seek. The total inability of flight, the heavy slow gait, and the utter fearlessness from long immunity from enemies, led to a continual slaughter for food by the sailors and others who came to and dwelt on Mauritius. But the final cause of the extermination of this and many other birds in the Mascarene Islands was probably the introduction of pigs, and also of the Ceylon Monkey. These animals increased enormously in numbers, ran wild in the woods, and soon destroyed all the eggs and young birds they could find.
