THE NESTING RHEA 



though whether this is of much advantage is doubtful, 

 considering its silence. In any case these facts seem to 

 point to a shorter period of Sightlessness in this than 

 in the other members of the great ostrich-like birds, 

 which culminated in the huge moas of New Zealand 

 and the roc or Aepyornis of Madagascar. There are 

 three different kinds of rhea, and it is interesting to notice 

 that one of these, called after Darwin, Rhea darwini, has a 

 rather spotted plumage suggestive on one colour theory 

 of greater antiquity. It has often been pointed out 

 that stripes and spots are not only found in the young of 

 many creatures which are unspotted and without stripes 

 in the adult condition, but that low forms of animals 

 are more variegated in this way than higher types. 

 Like the struthious birds generally, with the exception 

 of the apteryx, whose claims to be associated with 

 them are less, the rhea is by no means invariably a 

 mild- tempered fowl. As is so common with the animate 

 creation, the excitement of the breeding season finds a 

 vent in continued hostility to any approaching man or 

 beast. Mr. Hudson considers that it is positively 

 dangerous to come within the range of vision of a cock 

 rhea who is engaged in watching the laying of eggs by 

 his numerous suite. Though ferocious to strangers, 

 the cock bird performs himself the severe duties of in- 

 cubation, a procedure in which he resembles other 

 ratites. At other times the rheas seek the society 

 of other beasts, and are reported to occur among herds 

 of deer with which they are on terms of amity. It has 

 been pointed out that in this the rhea simulates the 

 ostrich, which has a similar fondness for frequenting 

 herds of zebras. 



GOLD CRESTED PENGUIN (Eudyptes chrysocome) 

 This bird, like others of its tribe, is limited to the 

 Antarctic region. The penguins inhabit the shores of 



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