208 TEXT-BOOK OF ZOOLOGY 



Allied Species. 



The American Ostrich (Rhea americana) inhabits the large grassy 

 plains of South America, the pampas. In the colour of its plumage 

 brown is the predominant tint, and its feet, like those of the two following 

 species, are three-toed. In its mode of life it closely resembles the 

 African ostrich, though it does not attain to the size of the latter species. 



The same applies to the Australian Ostrich, or Emu (Dromceus 

 novce-hollandice) , the plumage of which consists of greyish-brown bristle- 

 like feathers. Its home is in the open bush-forests of Eastern Australia. 



The Cassowary (Casuarius galeatus) is also an inhabitant of forests. 

 Its black plumage bears a still closer resemblance to hairs than that of 

 the emu. Its wings are completely atrophied. The organs, indeed, are 

 of even less use to it in the dense primeval forests of its home, New 

 Guinea and the Moluccas, than are those of the ostrich in its course 

 over deserts and steppes. The head and neck are naked, and vividly 

 coloured with green, blue and red. On the forehead the bird carries 

 a horny helmet-like crest (hence name galeatus}. 



The Kiwi (Apteryx oweni) is a very remarkable animal, resembling 

 the ostriches only in the shape of its feathers, the absence of the quill- 

 feathers of the wings and tail, and several peculiarities in the structure 

 of the skeleton (see above). It is about the size of a domestic cock, and 

 inhabits the damp primeval forests of New Zealand. The colour of its 

 bristle-like feathers is a dusky greyish-brown, in correspondence with its 

 nocturnal mode of life. With its long, slender beak it probes the soft 

 soil, after the manner of a snipe (which see), in search for food, which 

 consists principally of worms and insect larvae. In this occupation 

 the soft sensitive tip of its bill serves as a tactile organ. On account of 

 the position of the nostrils at the tip of the bill, it can also perceive its 

 prey by the smell. From the base of the bill arise large tactile bristles. 

 The eye is very small, indicating but feeble sight (compare mole). The 

 feet are short, but strong, and furnished with three large toes in front 

 and an additional short toe (hallux) behind. This peculiar bird is said 

 to glide about during the night stealthily, like a rat. Owing to incessant 

 persecution, it is gradually becoming scarcer. 



ORDER X. : WADERS (GRALLATORES). 



LEGS tall in consequence of a long tarso-metatarsus. Toes free, or 

 united by a short membrane (rarely webbed). Beak and neck generally 

 long. Young either " precocious " or helpless. 



