The dodo, (Raphus cucullatus) was a species of flightless bird
inhabiting island of Mauritius off the coast of east Africa.
First recorded in 1598, the dodo and the related solitaires of
the nearby islands of Réunion and Rodrigues were extinct just
over a century later by a combination of hunting and predation
from animals brought by man; the phrase "dead as a dodo"
entering the lexicon as a symbol of utter or complete
obsolescence. Skeletal remains indicate the dodo was fairly
large, approximately 20 to 45 pounds in weight and just over 3
feet tall; captive birds brought to Europe would weigh over 50
pounds. The wings were rudimentary, the feet and legs short and
thick. The head was large, ending in a long, hooked bill with
the nostrils toward the end. Contemporary paintings made on
captive birds in Europe provide a glimpse of their plumage and
coloration. They were gray in color, with the underside
slightly-lighter in color. The tail was represented by several
curled feathers, while the wings bore primary f