Page:Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition, v. 17.djvu/781

O D D O D D 723 indeed his species has generally been identified with the common " Weeka " of the Maories of the Middle Island, which can scarcely be the case if his statement is abso lutely true, since the latter does not appear to reach so far to the southward, or to affect the sea-shore. It may there fore be fairly inferred that his subject was obtained from some other locality. The North Island of New Zealand has what is allowed to be a third species, to which the name of Ocydromus earli is attached, and this was formerly very plentiful ; but its numbers are rapidly decreasing, and there is every chance of its soon being as extinct as is the species which tenanted Norfolk Island on its discovery by Cook in 1774, and Avas doubtless distinct from all the rest, but no specimen of it is known to exist in any museum. 1 Another species, 0. sylvestris, smaller and lighter in colour than any of the rest, was found in 1869 to linger yet in Lord Howe s Island (Proc. Zool. Society, 1869, p. 472, pi. xxxv.). Somewhat differing from Ocydromus, but appa rently very nearly allied to it, is a little bird peculiar, it is believed, to the Chatham Islands (Ibis, 1872, p. 247), and now regarded by Captain Hutton as the type of a genus Cabalus under the name of C. modestus, while other natu ralists consider it to be the young of the rare Rallus die/en- lachi. So far the distribution of the Ocydromine form is wholly in accordance with that of most others characteristic of the New-Zealand sub-region ; but a curious exception is asserted to have been found in the Gcdlirallus lafresnay- anus of New Caledonia, which, though presenting some structural differences, has been referred to the genus Ocydromus. The chief interest attaching to the Ocydromes is their inability to use in flight the wings with which they are furnished, and hence an extreme probability of the form becoming wholly extinct in a short time. Of this inability there are other instances among the Rallidse (see MOOR HEN, vol. xvi. p. 808); but here we have coupled with it the curious fact that in the skeleton the angle which the scapula makes with the coracoid is greater than a right angle, a peculiarity shared only, so far as is known, among the Carinatge, by the Dodo. The Ocydromes are birds of dull plumage, and mostly of retiring habits, though the common species is said to show great boldness toAvards man, and, from the accounts of Cook and the younger Forster, the birds seen by them displayed little fear. It is also declared that they will interbreed Avith common poultry, and more than one Avriter vouches for the truth of this extraordinary statement. It is to be hoped that the naturalists of NCAV Zealand will not alloAV the form to become extinct if any effectual means can be taken to per petuate it ; but, should that fate be inevitable, it at least behoves the present generation to see that every possible piece of information concerning the birds be recorded, and every possible preparation illustrating their structure be made, while yet there is time ; for, though much has been Avritten on the subject, it is obvious from one of the latest papers (Trans. New Zealand Institute, x. p. 213) that there is still more to be learned, some of Avhich may throAv further light on the affinities of the birds of the extinct genus Aptornis. (A. N.) ODDFELLOWS, a name adopted by the members of certain social institutions having mystic signs of recogni- 1 As before stated (NESTOB, p. 354 ante), the younger Forster remarked that the birds of Norfolk Island, though believed by the other naturalists of Cook s ship to be generally the same as those of New Zealand, were distinguished by their brighter colouring. There can now be little doubt that all the land-birds were specifically distinct. It seems to be just possible that Span-man s R. australis, which cannot be very confidently referred to any known species of Ocydromus, may Lave been from Norfolk Island ; but there is little probability of the point ever being determined, though it seems to be worth the atten tion of ornithologists. tion, initiatory rites and ceremonies, and various grades of dignity and honour. The objects the associations have in view are purely social and benevolent ; the sphere of their operations is confined Avholly to their oAvn members, and secrecy is enjoined in regard to all benevolent acts. As in the case of most other institutions of a similar kind, a claim of venerable antiquity has been set up for the order of OddfelloAvs, the most common account of its origin ascribing it to the JeAvish legion under Titus, Avho, it is asserted, received from that emperor its first charter Avritten on a golden tablet. Statements even more im probable and fantastic have been made regarding its foundation, but OddfelloAvs themselves noAv generally admit that the institution cannot be traced to an earlier period than the first half of the 18th century, and explain the name as adopted at a time Avhen the severance into sects and classes was so Avide that persons aiming at social union and mutual help Avere a marked exception to the general rule. Mention is made by Defoe of the society of OddfelloAvs, but the oldest lodge of which the name has been handed cloAvn is the Loyal Aristarcus, No. 9, Avhich met in 1745 " at the Oakley Arms, Borough of SoutlrvA ark; Globe Tavern, Hatton Garden ; or the Boar s Head in Smithfield, as the noble master may direct." The earliest lodges Avere supported by each member and visitor paying a penny to the secretary on entering the lodge, and special sums Avere voted to any brother in need. If out of Avork he Avas supplied Avith a card and funds to reach the next lodge, and he went from lodge to lodge until he found employment. Now there is a regular system of periodical dues and collections, with occasional fees proportioned to the dignities or degrees conferred in the lodges. At first each lodge Avas practically independent of the others, and had its own special rules and government, but a close bond of unity gradually grew up between the large majority of the lodges until they adopted a definite common ritual and became confederated under the name of the Patriotic Order. Towards the end of the century many of the lodges Avere broken up by State prosecutions on the suspi cion that their purposes Avere "seditious," but the society, changing its name and location, continued to exist in a sort of moribund condition, as the Union Order of Oddfellows, until in 1809 several of the members endeavoured to resuscitate its dormant energies. Finding, hoAvever, that it was impossible to excite an interest in anything higher than convivial meetings, they in 1813, at a convention in Manchester, formally seceded from the Union Order and formed the Independent Order of OddfelloAvs, Manchester Unity, which increased with enormous rapidity, and now overshadows all the minor societies in England. Accord ing to the Oddfelloivs Magazine for October 1883, the membership of the order in 1834 Avas 32,832, Avhich in 1837 had increased to 80,570 and in 1845 to 239,374, Avhile in January 1883 the numbers had risen to 565,368, the lodges amounting to 4251. In 1881 the receipts Avere 761,695, the payments 531,335, and the capital 5,291,891. In 1850 the society Avas legalized and recog nized by the state in a corporate capacity. The Oddfelloivs Magazine, issued by the society, and up to October 1883 published quarterly, now appears monthly. In England there are a large number of minor orders of Ocldfelknvs, Avhich either existed before the Manchester Unity, have seceded from it, or have had an independent origin. Among them are the Ancient Independent Order or Kent Unity, Woolwich, 1805, revived 1861 ; the Nottingham Ancient Imperial Order, 1812 ; the London Unity, 1820 ; the Boston Unity, 1832 ; the Kingston Unity, 1840 ; the Norfolk and Norwich Unity, 1849 ; and the Derby Mid land United Order, 1856. Oddfellowship Avas introduced into the United States