THE WORLD'S BIRDS. 163 



small, neck rather long, body heavy, with pro- 

 minent thighs. 



Plumage and Colouration. — Powdery, brown, or 

 grey, either uniform or barred or speckled ; no 

 seasonal change or sexual difference, but the hen 

 is larger ; young like adults. 



Young. — Much like young rheas, clad in hairy-looking 

 down. They fledge very soon. 



Nest. — None ; eggs being laid on bare ground. 



Eggs. — Several ; oval, unspotted, richly coloured and 

 with a glazed appearance. 



Incubation. — Three weeks ; it is performed by the 

 male only. 



Courtship. — In the Rufous Tinamou the male stands 

 up and displays his quills, stretching them down- 

 wards and forwards. 



Food. — Grain, herbage, insects, etc. 



Gait. — A walk or run. 



Flight. — Heavy and direct, by continuous vibration 

 of the wings ; they cannot fly far. 



Disposition and Habits. — They are rather stupid ; 

 the hen is thoroughly masculine in character, and 

 seems to mate with several males. 



Note. — A whistle, often very beautiful. 



Economic Qualities. — They are excellent eating, and 

 good sporting birds, passing as partridges in South 

 America. 



Captivity. — They live well, and some species have bred. 



Distribution and Important Species. — There are 

 about seventy species, confined to Mexico, Central 

 and South America, chiefly in wooded or grassy 

 country. They are usually ground-birds, but 

 at least one roosts at night. The most familiar 

 species is the Rufous Tinamou [Rhynchotus ru- 

 fescens), often imported to Europe, as large as a 

 small fowl, and barred black and dun, with cinna- 

 mon primary quills and a long bill, 



II* 



