CHAPTER II 



THE OSTRICH-LIKE BIRDS 



The Ostrich tribe are among the most interesting of living birds. 

 And this because, in the first place, they are the survivors of a much 

 more ancient type of birds, extinct long before the advent of man 

 upon the earth ; and in the second, because they have undergone 

 most profound changes in their anatomical structure. 



To begin with, all, save the South American Tinamous, have abso- 

 lutely lost the power of flight, and this at so remote a period that 

 the great keel of the breast-bone, to which we have already referred, 

 has entirely disappeared. But, besides this, the wings have degenerated 

 to a degree met with in no other living birds ; and this is true also of 

 the feathers. 



The lowliest member of the Ostrich tribe is the Emeu of Australia. 

 Though, after the African Ostrich, the largest of living birds, it has 

 nothing to recommend it in the way of beauty, being of a dull greyish 

 brown in colour. Its wings are extremely small, and can only be 

 found by diligent hunting among the feathers of the sides of the body. 

 But the Emeu can boast some very handsome relatives. These are 

 the Cassowaries of the Papuan Islands — though one species occurs 

 on the mainland of Australia, ranging from Cape York Peninsula 

 to Rockingham Bay. But little is known about these birds, how- 

 ever, in a wild state. When first feathered they are like the Emeu, 

 dull-coloured ; but when fully adult life is attained they assume a 

 rich black dress, and shed the feathers of the head and neck, the bare 

 skin then assuming the most brilliant hues — combinations of blue, 

 green, violet, red, and yellow, according to the species. Further, 

 from the crown of the head there arises a large casque, or helmet, 



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