The Dodo and the Solitaire

December 3, 2012
Parish gathers the meager scientific records available on the Dodo and the Solitaire, adding fragments from other disciplines to flesh out an ever-incomplete picture of these extinct, flightless birds. In the process, he demonstrates how history, anatomy, ecology, art, and literature all contribute to researching the natural history of a species. The first two chapters feel cumbersome, composed primarily of lists of facts with annotations taken from written accounts of past explorers. Parish shares a rare opinion in chapter three, noting how discrepancies across available illustrations and visual models aide in the determination of a species' real physical characteristics. He then presents actual anatomical evidence for the existence of Dodos and Solitaires, including the locations of bone discoveries. A summary of the natural history of the two birds follows, with Parish outlining the variability in opinions on wing anatomy, plumage, internal organs, and even the birds' edibility. The book, a welcome volume for aficionados, is organized as a record of recollections, part-remembrances, facts, and fictions, but a number of references to written accounts and prior research interrupt the flow. 20 color, 200 b&w illus.

February 1, 2013

Paleobiologist Parish presents a tour de force examination of two birds that have been extinct for approximately 400 years. Written in comprehensive detail, it is dense with an amazing amount of history, references, facts, maps, and illustrations. Parish examines written accounts of Europeans who observed the few specimens sent back by European explorers, texts by the explorers themselves, and the islands the birds inhabited. He discusses illustrations (engravings, paintings, and more), including depictions of the birds as well as aspects of their anatomy. The author also carefully identifies conflicts in the documentation and errors and misunderstandings about both birds. VERDICT The level of detail and frequent citations included within the text slow the reading; it's possible to lose the story for the detail. Recommended for a scholarly audience serious about investigating the dodo and the solitaire.--Michael D. Cramer, Schwarz BioSciences, Research Triangle Park, NC

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