INTRODUCTION. 65 
will be further noticed in our Fifth Chapter, as their peculia- 
rities could not be appreciated by the student before becoming 
acquainted with the leading facts concerning the Anatomy of 
Birds. 
Another feathered inhabitant of New Zealand is rapidly 
verging towards extinction, namely, the Apteryx (Aptery.w 
mantelli). It lays but one egg, and can neither run rapidly 
Fig. 67. 


=< 
Ala pele om 

The Rhea (Rhea americana). 
nor fly in the least. Its single egg is exceedingly large in pro- 
portion to the Bird itself, which is about the size of a Hen. 
There are four species of the genus, which have each a very 
long, curved bill and only most minute rudiments of wings. i 
The largest existing Bird is also a Ground-bird, and utterly 
incapable of flight. This is the Ostrich (Struthio camelus), 
which is exclusively an inhabitant of Africa. It is represented 
F 
