Rarity Unto Death Summary and Analysis

The dodo, a large pigeon-like bird, once lived on the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. It could not fly, and nested on the ground. It apparently ate fruit that dropped to the ground from trees. This, Quammen writes, is about all that is known for certain about the dodo, which went extinct some time in the late 17th century. It was described by sailors as a stupid bird that did not try to escape humans and which, while not the tastiest of meat, provided stopping ships with a source of food. Their large eggs were also gathered and eventually the numbers began to dwindle.

Human hunting certainly hurt the dodo population, Quammen explains, but there appears to be more to the story. A species of monkey and pigs had also been introduced to the island...