THE NANDOU. 



391 



are tamed with, the greatest ease, becoming very familiar in the 

 house, visiting the various apartments, wandering about the streets, 

 and even into the country ; but they always return to their homes 

 before sunset. 



The flesh of the adult Nandou is by no means agreeable ; that 

 of the young, on the contrary, is tender and sweet, and forms 



Fig. 154.— Tlie Naiidou, or Rliea (Utruthi-j R/tea, Linn.). 



excellent food. Its skin, when properly dressed, is used for 

 bags, purses, &c., and their feathers serve for plumes and light 

 dusting brooms. We owe the perfect knowledge of a second 

 species of Ehea to Mr. Darwin, who has given a figure and ample de- 

 scriptions of the bird and its habits in "The Voyage of the Beagle T 

 it has been named in consec^uence Rhea Darwinii. There is every 



