Qu. 7. _Dodo_ is most probably the name given at first to the bird by
the Portuguese; _Doudo_, in that language, being a fool or _lumpish_
stupid person. And, besides that name, it bore that of _Toelpel_ in
German, which has the same signification. The _Dod-aers_ of the Dutch
is most probably a vulgar epithet of the Dutch sailors, expressive of
its _lumpish_ conformation and inactivity. Our sailors would possibly
have substituted heavy-a----. I find the Dodo was also called the
_Monk-swan_ of St. Maurice's Island at the commencement of last
century. The word _Dronte_ is apparently neither Portugese nor
Spanish, though in Connelly's _Dictionary_ of the latter language
we have--
"_Dronte_, cierto paxaro de Indias de alas muy cortas--an
appellation given by some to the Dodo."
It seems to me to be connected with _Drone_; but this can only be
ascertained from the period and the people by whom it was applied.
That the bird once existed there can be no doubt, from the notice
of Sir Hamon L'Estrange, which there is no reason for questioning;
and there seems to be as little reason to suppose that Tradescant's
stuffed specimen was a fabrication.
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