Where do Dodos Imagrate when they were not Exticnt

[Jeff Pursey]

Where do Dodos Imagrate when they were not Extinct i just cant seem to find the information anywhere fnx for any replies

[CJW]

Is this for real?
They were flightless and therefore stuck on an island.

[Jane Turner]

Perhaps they indulged in great overland migations like Wildebeast.. clockwise in spring and anti-clockwise in autumn!

[CJW]

Need to be a very low tide though.....

[Andy Bright]

Penguins are migratory ;)

[jurek]

From Mauritius to the pages of "Alice in Wonderland"?

[CJW]

Penguins are migratory ;)
And can swim. Dodos couldn't.

[Jeff Pursey]

Thanks for the answers i feel a bit stupid nt know dodos cant swim but hey i learned sothing new so once again thanks

[Andy Bright]

And can swim. Dodos couldn't.
Really, is this documented? I bet they could float extremely well. Maybe you could check google or some reference works for me.

[Jane Turner]

They did have a very high fat content! Actually you jest I have a text book in which they were still alive and the merits of their taste is discussed... hang on.. will see if my scanner and OCR can handle the font!

[CJW]

Really, is this documented? I bet they could float extremely well. Maybe you could check google or some reference works for me.
Do it your bloody self. Cheeky sod.

[Jane Turner]

Here goes

Mankind have generally made swiftness the attribute of birds; but the dodo has no title to this distinction. Instead of exciting the idea of swiftness by its appearance, it seems to strike the imagination as a thing the most unwieldy .and inactive of all nature. Its body is massive, .most round, and covered with gray feathers; .: is just barely supported upon two short thick legs, like pillars, while its head and neck rise from it in a manner truly grotesque. The neck, thick and pursy, is joined to the head, which consists of two great chaps, that open far behind the eyes, which are large, black, and prominent; so that the animal, when it gapes, seems to be all mouth. The bill, therefore, is of an extraordinary length, not flat and broad, but thick, and of a bluish white, sharp at the end, and each chap crooked in opposite direction.

They resemble two pointed spoons that are laid together by the backs. From all this results a stupid and voracious physiognomy; which is still more increased by a bordering of feathers round the root of the beak, and which gives the appearance of a hood or cowl, and finishes this picture of stupid deformity. Bulk, which in other animals implies strength, in this only contributes to inactivity. The ostrich or the cassowary are no more able to fly than the animal before us ; but then they supply that defect by their speed in running. The dodo seems weighed down by its own heaviness, and has scarcely strength to urge itself forward. It seems among birds what the sloth is among quadrupeds, an unresisting thing, equally incapable of flight or defence. It is furnished with wings, covered with soft ash-coloured feathers, but they are too short to assist it in flying. It is furnished with a tail, with a few small curled feathers ; but this tail is disproportioned and displaced. Its legs are too short for running, and its body too fat to be strong. One would take it for a tortoise that had supplied itself with the feathers of a bird; and that thus dressed out with the instruments of flight, it was .only still the more unwieldy.

This bird is a native of the Isle of France ; and Dutch. who first discovered it there, called it, in their language, the nauseous bird, as well from its disgusting figure as from the bad taste of its flesh. However, succeeding observers contradict the first report, and assert that its flesh is good and wholesome eating. It is a silly simple bird, as may very well he supposed from its figure, and is very easily taken. Three or four dodos are enough to dine a hundred men.

Whether the dodo be the same bird with that which some travellers have described under the bird of Xazareth, yet remains uncertain. The country from whence thev both come is the same ;

The merits of Great and Houbara Bustards are also discussed... in terms of taste :)


there is more.. but I more or less had to type this all - the OCR can't handle the type face...

[Andy Bright]

Do it your bloody self. Cheeky sod.
LOL, I just couldn't resist ;)

[Jane Turner]

Anyhow.. they were not apparently much for moving!

[Andy Bright]

Three or four dodos are enough to dine a hundred men.


Thanks Jane, this really does give a sense of scale of the bird.. or else rations were pretty thin in those days. Interesting that the flavour was not to Dutch tastes yet fine for the French, maybe if the Dutch held on to Mauritius we would still have the Dodo?

[Jane Turner]

I think it must have said more for the size of rations... there are 4 more pages in tiny print.. going on to compare with solitaires

[scampo]

Where do Dodos Imagrate when they were not Extinct i just cant seem to find the information anywhere fnx for any replies
Welcome to Bird Forum, Jeff. Good to hear from you!

[Mickymouse]

Welcome and thanks for a great fun question( see my signature)

Mick

[Rhion]

Perhaps they indulged in great overland migations like Wildebeast.. clockwise in spring and anti-clockwise in autumn!

Well there is one old record of a Kiwi on Anglesey back in the 19th century. How's that for a long walk? ;)

[ground-roller]

Thanks Jane, this really does give a sense of scale of the bird.. or else rations were pretty thin in those days. Interesting that the flavour was not to Dutch tastes yet fine for the French, maybe if the Dutch held on to Mauritius we would still have the Dodo?

Unfortunately it wasn;t the hunting that pushed the Dodos over the edge it was the horrid crab-eating Maques that the Dutch bought which ate the young and eggs.
Interestignly the now extinct Giant Tortoise in Mauritius did 'migrate' moving from the uplands to the lowlands (very slowly I'd imagine) in the dry (?) season following food supplies.

[alcedo.atthis]

"Unfortunately it wasn't the hunting that pushed the Dodos over the edge it was the horrid crab-eating Maques that the Dutch bought which ate the young and eggs."

Are you sure, the pigeon fanciers thought it was the Sparrow Hawk and the Peregrine!!

Malky.
Slight bit of cryptic humour creeping in.

[Mike Pennington]

"Unfortunately it wasn't the hunting that pushed the Dodos over the edge it was the horrid crab-eating Maques that the Dutch bought which ate the young and eggs."

Are you sure, the pigeon fanciers thought it was the Sparrow Hawk and the Peregrine!!

Malky.
Slight bit of cryptic humour creeping in.

I blame Magpies!