 I have seen in Mauritius birds bigger than a Swan , without feathers on the body , which is covered with a black down ; the hinder part is round , the rump adorned with curled feathers as many in number as the bird is years old . In place of wings they have feathers like these last , black and curved , without webs . They have no tongues , the beak is large , curving a little downwards ; their legs are long , scaly , with only three toes on each foot . It has a cry like a <unk> , and is by no means so savoury to eat as the Flamingos and Ducks of which we have just spoken . They only lay one egg which is white , the size of a halfpenny roll , by the side of which they place a white stone the size of a hen 's egg . They lay on grass which they collect , and make their nests in the forests ; if one kills the young one , a grey stone is found in the gizzard . We call them Oiseaux de <unk> . The fat is excellent to give ease to the muscles and nerves . 
