234 BIRDS OF LA PLATA 
about on the plains; an from the large number 
of wasted eggs found it seems probable that more 
are dropped out of than in the nest. The egg when 
fresh is of a fine golden yellow, but this colour 
grows paler from day to day, and finally fades to a 
parchment-white. 
After hatching the young are assiduously tended 
and watched over by the cock, and it is then dan- 
gerous to approach the Rhea on horseback, as the 
bird with neck stretched out horizontally and out- 
spread wings charges suddenly, making so huge and 
grotesque a figure that the tamest horse becomes 
ungovernable with terror. 
Eagles and the large Carrion Hawk are the enemies 
the Rhea most fears when the young are still small, 
and at the sight of one flying overhead he crouches 
down and utters a loud snorting cry, whereupon 
the scattered young birds run in the greatest terror 
to shelter themselves under his wings. 
Darwin’s Rhea, Rhea darwini, differs little in 
colouring from the Common Rhea, which it replaces 
south of the Rio Negro. From this river it ranges 
south to the Straits of Magellan. The Indians call 
it ‘‘ Moli Chueké’’—short or dwarf Chueké; its 
Spanish name is “ Avestruz petizo.’’ They were 
formerly very abundant along the Rio Negro; 
unhappily some years ago their feathers commanded 
a very high price; Gauchos and Indians found that 
hunting the Ostrich was their most lucrative em- 
ployment; consequently these noble birds were 
slaughtered in such numbers that they have been 
