Abstract
MR. SEARLES V. WOOD will, I trust, pardon me if I again take exception to the terms in which (suprà, p. 301) he still writes of Didus and Didunculus. These two birds do not belong to the same group of Columbæ. The fact that certain authors may have included them under the designation of “ground-doves” is no proof whatever of their relationship, any more than it is of the relationship of either to any other birds so called—for instance those of the Neotropical genus Chamæpelia. I have studied pretty carefully the osteology of many forms of Columbæ with especial reference to their affinities. Pezophaps and Didus are of course nearly allied, though even these are not congeners. Didunculus is at least as distinct from them as from all other Columbæ with the possible exception of Otidiphaps, which last I have not had an opportunity of examining. Furthermore, I may remark that if Mr. Wood will but look at what has been published of the habits of Didunculus he will find that it is as much an arboreal as a terrestrial bird, so that the name of “ground-dove” is as unhappily applied to it as is that of Didunculus or its ridiculous translation, “Dodlet.”
Article PDF
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
NEWTON, A. Zoological Geography—Didus and Didunculus. Nature 18, 331 (1878). https://doi.org/10.1038/018331a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/018331a0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.