572 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 191*7. 



fication, are commonly represented in the park by numerous species, 

 and some of the most conspicuous or interesting varieties of each 

 group will be mentioned here in proper sequence. 



OSTRICH-LIKEl BIRDS. 



The existing members of this group (Ratitse) are, with the excep- 

 tion of the kiwis of New Zealand, all large birds. They are inca- 

 pable of flight but are swift of foot and exceedingly wary, and are, 

 moreover, able to defend themselves vigorously with beak and foot. 

 They are keen of sight and, except the cassowary, are inhabitants of 

 open country. 



The ostriches are of maximum size for existing birds, a full-grown 

 male sometimes measuring more than 8 feet in height. They arc dis- 

 tinguished from all other birds by having only two toes on each foot. 

 The true ostriches are now confined to Africa and the adjacent por- 

 tions of southwestern Asia, where several species occur. Two of 

 these forms are shown in the park. The specimen of the great 

 Somaliland ostrich (Struthio molyhdopJia/nes) was presented to 

 President Roosevelt by Emperor Menelik of Abyssinia, and is a 

 magnificent example of this fine bird. The South African ostrich 

 (S. australis) is the species most commonly kept on the ostrich 

 farms in the Southwest, where the bird is reared for its feathers. 

 The adult male ostrich is a splendid bird in his black and white 

 plumage, but the females and young males are of a dull grayish- 

 brown coloration. 



The ostrich is represented in South America by the rhea, one 

 species of which (Rhea ameriecma) is kept in the park. This is a 

 bird of considerably less size than the ostrich ; it has three toes, and 

 its feathers are of less commercial importance. Like its African 

 relative it is an inhabitant of the open country and is found on the 

 pampas of Argentina and on the great plains of southern Brazil 

 and Bolivia. 



Australia and the neighboring islands are the homes of a number 

 of ostrich-like birds. The park possesses examples of two of these 

 peculiar types. The common cassowary (Casuctrius galeatus) is a 

 native of Ceram, but closely related forms occur in New Guinea, 

 Australia, and on other islands. The emu (Dromiceius novcehol- 

 landice) comes from Australia. The birds kept in the park have laid 

 many of the beautiful and characteristic dark green eggs, about 10 

 of which constitute the usual clutch. 



THE DIVING BIRDS. 



The loons and grebes (order Colymbiformes) are perhaps the 

 most expert of diving birds and their whole structure is developed 



