h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Amazingly unknown bird.

'Dodo', 'dronte', 'didus ineptus' or 'raphus cucullatus'. They give all massive numbers of search hits. Even 'Rose' (not the Doctor Who 'one plus') came up with a cuddly dodo: "You can use mine for the colours." showing her bright red, blue yellow and green bird.

I read them the intro of the hitchhikers book the other night. 'Waterrat' started pondering about the evolution of the 'little green papers' and 'Rose' trying to decipher the english version text.

She reads most words by now and for unknown or unrecognised words she still has to spell the letters. Observing the process of learning to read.

Oh yes I have submitted some entries to Peer Review, already (again?) in an odd way, should the dodo go to update or peer?
'Dodos' < A138269 >
'The Dodo - An extinct bird.' < A2831005 >

If it is treated as an update the existing conversations would become completely weird, I think we will have to adapt the reality to confirm with the Guide.

Fantasic topic,

but I thought it was rather a famous bird, ie; the saying "Dead as a Dodo." Possibly the best known of all extinct species to my generation.

Cheers H.

Traveller in Time rephrasing
"Unknown not as in not known by name, but more as in we hardly know more then that it was a bird. "

The dodo should definitely be in Peer Review!

*s to check out conversation*

Well, your entry is definitely more detailed than the old one, but it isn't exactly EG-material, is it?

Traveller in Time on his head
"Well, i think I am still improving it.

Though I do not want to use too many of the story, perhaps it would be wise to emphasise the fact the bird is famous for being extinct. It is factual as I keep finding sites claiming the bird is extinct.

Still what did they eat? How old did they get? "

What do you mean, what did they eat? You've covered that in your article.

(It's a very good article, BTW. )

TiT - you could submit this to Peer Review with the comment in the first posting that 'This entry is intended to replace the existing entry ''Dodos' < A138269 >. You're quite right - the existing entry is wholly inadequate and yours will no doubt benefit from going through Peer Review.

Traveller in Time dodoing some writing
"< <./>F48874?thread=619119</.> > < PeerReview > thread
< A2831005 > 'The Dodo - An extinct bird'

Actually I do say nothing, in a complex manner:
>With their specialised long crooked and hooked beak they ate fruits, seeds or nuts. Dodos seemed to eat stones and rocks, and perhaps some sea fruits.

Besides the shows some of the birds performed in Europe (Holland 1628, England 1638) where they were shown to eat stones an bits of iron, nothing is known about what they would eat in the wild.

It is going to drive me nuts "

Hi TT,

Perhaps the reason for eating bits of iron and stones was a sound purpose, they were a very large bird, and may be not so stupid as believed, ordinary domestic poultry have to eat stones and grit to grind up their food, therefore the Doodo would need larger stones and perhaps bits of metal to grind their food, just like a milltone grinds wheat. Without the small stones poultry becomes ill and dies, without limestone the eggs have no shells.

Cheers H.

Traveller in Time (bluetits are insect eaters no need for stones)
"I am aware of the reasons for them of eating stones, (the iron will have been just for the performance). Amongst other seeds, to polish the seeds of the Calvaria tree. < http://www.noahsarkoofarm.co.uk/research/birddigestion.shtml > gives an impression.

Good hint about the limestone, I will make use of it. "

Well, you know they ate the fruit of the calvary tree.