28o LOST AND VANISHING BIRDS 



The remaining Struthious birds are inhabitants 

 of South America. These are the Rheas, associated 

 in the family Rheidae by some authorities, con- 

 stituting a separate Order of others. There are 

 at present three species of Rheas recognised by 

 ornithologists. The earliest to receive a scientific 

 name was Rhea americana, a species ranging from 

 Paraguay and South Brazil to Patagonia. The 

 second species to be described, Rhea darwini, was 

 named after its discoverer, Darwin, who obtained 

 it during his ever-memorable voyage round the 

 world on the Beagle. It is apparently confined to 

 the extreme southern portions of South America, 

 although we should say it is said to occur north of 

 the Rio Negro. It is also asserted that these two 

 species of Rhea sometimes consort together as far 

 north as the Rio Colorado. The third species was 

 named Rhea macrorhyncha by Mr. Sclater, and so 

 far as is yet known inhabits the " sertoes " of 

 North-east Brazil. The Rheas are much smaller 

 birds than the Ostrich, but more nearly resemble 

 that bird than the Cassowaries and Emus, although 

 wanting the famous curling plumes. The plumage 

 of the Rhea, unfortunately, has a commercial value 

 so great that it is likely soon to lead to the 

 complete extermination of the bird. Thousands 



