86 BIRDS OF ise 
were flying, while several others were stationed near, 
apparently waiting for something to happen. The 
attraction was a large male Rhea squatting on the 
ground, and sheltering with its extended wings a 
brood of young birds. My friend was not able to 
count them, but there were not fewer than twenty- 
five or thirty young birds, small tender things, only 
a day or so out of the shell. As soon as he rode into 
the open space of ground, the old Ostrich sprang 
up, and with lowered head, clattering beak, and 
broad wings spread out like sails, rushed at him; 
his horse was greatly terrified, and tried to plunge 
into the dense mass of thistles, so that he had the 
greatest difficulty in keeping his seat. Presently the 
Ostrich left him, and casting his eyes round he was 
astonished to see that all the young Ostriches were 
running about, scattered over the ground, while the 
Caranchos were pursuing, knocking down, and killing 
them. Meanwhile the old Ostrich was frantically 
rushing about trying to save them; but the Ca- 
ranchos, when driven from one bird they were 
attacking, would merely rise and drop on the next 
one a dozen yards off; and as there were about 
fifteen Caranchos all engaged in the same way, 
the slaughter was proceeding at a great rate. My 
friend, who had been vainly struggling to get the 
better of his horse, was then forced to leave the 
place, and did not therefore see the end of the tragedy 
in which he had acted an involuntary part; but 
before going he saw that at least half the young birds 
were dead, and that these were all torn and bleed- 
