506 



THE RHEA. 



appears to have been from 42 to 43. It has not crossed the Cordilleras, but I have seen it 

 within the first range of mountains in the Uspallata plain, elevated between six and seven 

 thousand feet. They generally prefer running against the wind, yet, at the instant, they 

 expand their wings, and, like a vessel, make all sail. On one fine hot day I saw several 

 Ostriches enter a bed of tall rocks, where they squatted concealed till nearly approached. 



"It is not generally known that Ostriches readily take to the water. Mr. King informs 

 me that at Patagonia, in the Bay of St. Bias, and at Port Valdez, he saw these birds swim- 

 ming several times from island to island. They ran into the water both when driven down to 



RHEA. Rhea americana. 



a point, and likewise of their own accord, when not frightened. The distance crossed was 

 about two hundred yards. When swimming, very little of their bodies appears above water, 

 and their necks are stretched a little forward ; their progress is slow. On two occasions I saw 

 some Ostriches swimming across the Santa Cruz River, where it was about four hundred yards 

 wide, and the stream rapid. 



" The inhabitants who live in the country readily distinguish, even at a distance, the male 

 bird from the female. The former is larger and darker colored, and has a larger head. The 

 Ostrich, I believe the cock, emits a singular deep-toned hissing note. When first I heard it, 

 while standing in the midst of some sand hillocks, I thought it was made by some wild beast, 

 for it is such a sound that one cannot tell from whence it comes, or from how far distant. 



"When we were at Bahia Blanca, in the months of September and October, the eggs were 



