Audlem, Cheshire.
_The Dodo_ (Vol. vii., p. 32.).--The progress of the interesting inquiry in
"N. & Q." regarding the Dodo, induces me to communicate the fact, that
amongst the architectural decorations of the palace of the ancient Kings of
Kandy, in Ceylon (now inhabited by the governor, Reginald C. Buller, Esq.),
there occur frequent and numerous representations of a bird, which in every
particular of shape is identical with the extinct fowl of Mauritius. What
is more curious is, that the natives were familiar with the figure as that
of "the sacred bird," which is common on the Buddhist monuments throughout
the island; but Ceylon possesses no existing species at all resembling the
Dodo. I have a drawing copied from the figures in the Kandy palace; but as
your publication does not admit of engraved illustration, I do not send it.