The DIDUNCULUS, or TOOTHED PIGEON (_Didunculus strigirostris_), is an
extraordinary bird, representing a family of Pigeons possessing a powerful
body, moderately long neck, and large head. The beak, which is much
higher than it is broad, has the upper mandible arched and hooked at its
extremity, its margins being smooth; the tip of the curved under mandible,
on the contrary, is furnished with three tooth-like indentations. The
tarsus is strong, partially bare, and longer than the centre toe; all
the toes are unconnected, and armed with broad hooked claws. The rounded
wings extend, when closed, almost to the end of the moderate-sized and
slightly-rounded tail. The head, throat, breast, and belly of this
species are of a glossy greenish black; the hinder portions of the under
side, the wings, tail, and feathers on the lower wing-covers rich, deep
chestnut-brown; the quills are greyish black, and all the feathers on the
upper part of the mantle decorated with a brilliant green spot at their
tips; the lower back, wings, tail, and feathers of the lower tail-covers
are of a beautiful dark chestnut-brown, and the quills greyish black.
The eye is blackish brown; the bare patch that surrounds it and the
cheek-stripes bright orange-red; the beak is also orange-red, with light
yellow tip; the feet red, and the claws yellowish white. The length
is twelve inches and a half, and breadth twenty-four inches; the wing
measures seven inches, and tail three inches.
The first description of the Didunculus was published by Sir William
Jardine, in the "Annals and Magazine of Natural History." "We are,"
he says, "indebted to Lady Harvey, who purchased it at Edinburgh,
for a specimen of this bird;" and adds, "We are aware of no existing
description, though there is one allusion made to a bird which may turn
out to be this. In Mr. Strickland's 'Report on the Present State of
Ornithology,' it is stated that in the recent American voyage of discovery
Mr. Titian Peale had discovered a new bird allied to the Dodo, which he
proposed to name Didunculus."
The subject remained in this state till 1862, when Dr. Bennett
communicated his observations on this Pigeon to the _Sydney Morning
Herald_. This communication was subsequently published in the _Proceedings
of the Zoological Society of London_, from which the following account is
taken:--
"The Rev. John B. Stair," says Dr. Bennett, who formerly resided for
some time at the Navigator group of islands, which are believed to be
the exclusive habitat of this singular bird, "informed the Secretary of
the Acclimatisation Society of Victoria that it is named by the natives
_Manua-mea_ or Red Bird, from the predominant colour of its plumage being
chocolate-red. It was formerly numerous, and therefore we may be surprised
that it should not have been seen and procured by the early navigators.
Now it is nearly extinct. It feeds on plantains, and is partial to the
fruit of the _soi_, a species of _Dioscorea_, or yam, a twining plant
abundant in these islands, and producing a fruit resembling a small
potato. In disposition it is exceedingly shy and timid. Like the Ground
Pigeons, it roosts on bushes or stumps of trees, and feeds on the ground;
it also builds its nest in such situations. During the breeding season
both parents aid in the work of incubation, relieve each other with great
regularity, and are so intent on the performance of their duty that when
sitting on the eggs they may be easily captured by hand. Two living birds
were obtained in this way by Mr. Stair. They are also taken by the natives
with birdlime or springes, and shot with arrows, the sportsman concealing
himself near an open space in which a quantity of the _soi_, their
favourite food, had been placed.
"The first living bird obtained was accidentally killed; the second, when
placed in confinement, was sullen, and refused food, but soon became
reconciled to captivity, and throve well. The natives fed it upon boiled
taro (the root of the _Caladium esculentum_), rolled into oblong pellets,
in the same manner as they fed their pet Wood Pigeons and Doves. The power
of wing of most of the Pigeon tribe is very great, a circumstance which
also obtains in this bird. It flies through the air with a loud noise,
like the Top-knot Pigeon (_Lopholaimus antarcticus_), of the Illawarra
district, and many other of the Australian Pigeons; and Mr. Stair
describes it as making so great a noise with its wings on rising, that
when heard at a distance it resembles the rumbling of distant thunder, for
which it might be mistaken."
In a second communication, made to the same society, by Dr. Bennett, in
1863, he speaks of another living specimen of this rare bird brought to
Sidney by Mr. Williams. "It was," he says, "at first rather shy and wild,
but afterwards became more tame, and manifested but little fear; this
feeling was, however, occasionally exhibited by the utterance of rapid
'coos,' and by fluttering its wings. It is a stupid-looking bird, and has
no particular attraction except in the anomalous and extraordinary form of
the beak, which cannot fail to attract the attention of the most ordinary
observers. The only sound it utters is a quick 'coo-coo-coo,' the beak
being always open when the sounds are emitted. The bird was captured about
five miles from Apia, in the Island of Upola; it is evident, therefore,
that a few still remain there. It is, however, agreed by every one with
whom I have conversed who has resided at the Navigators' Islands, that it
is nearly extinct, both from being eaten by the natives, as well as owing
to the attacks of cats, rats, and other vermin. Its food consisted at
first of boiled yams, but it will eat bananas, apples, bread, and boiled
potatoes."
In a third paper, read by Dr. Bennett in 1864 at a meeting of the
Zoological Society, he says:--"In the contour of the bill, the form and
position of the nostrils, and several other characters, the Didunculus
differs from any other living species yet known. Although a smaller bird,
it approximates in all its characters to the extinct Dodo, and, like it,
combines the characters of a rapacious bird with those of the harmless
Pigeon. Although the mandibles are powerful, yet the beak is never used as
an offensive weapon, for when the hand is placed in the cage, or the bird
is seized for removal from one cage to another, it never attempts to bite,
but, on the contrary, is so timid that, after fluttering about or running
into a dark corner, it soon becomes subdued and is easily taken."
Of a living pair purchased by Dr. Bennett, he says: "They would nibble
into minute bits the seeds of loquats, almonds, and hempseed, with the
same action as a Parrot when feeding. When I first had them, boiled
potatoes and bread formed their diet; the former, being soft, were torn
and swallowed in large pieces, but the latter they placed under their
feet and tore with their hooked beak into small bits. It was supposed
that these birds never drink water; this I soon found to be incorrect.
They invariably feed in the light, but will not take food if any one be
present. They run with great rapidity, elongating the body and depressing
the head, and in the action of running resemble Grouse."
Another specimen, purchased at a high price by Dr. Bennett, was presented
by him to the Zoological Gardens, London, where it lived for several
months. Its skin is now in the British Museum. Of this bird Dr. Bennett
says that, while in his possession, "it never became domesticated, nor
evinced the slightest attachment to the lady who fed it; it was the same
to her as to strangers." Dr. Bennett does not consider the Didunculus
a bird which could be readily reconciled to captivity; "for some time
it would be comparatively tame, and then, without any apparent cause to
account for the change, it would become very wild." Walpole says that the
Didunculus makes its nest on the ground, and that both parents incubate
the eggs.
* * * * *