GRALLATOKIi^. «i>^5 



But two species are known, which might constitute two genera. 



Struthio camelus, L.; Enl. 457*. (The Ostrich of the Eastern 

 Continent). The feet have but two toes, the external of which is 

 one half shorter than its fellow, and has no nail. This bird, so 

 highly celebrated from the earliest ages, abounds in the sandy de- 

 serts of Arabia and Africa. It attains the height of six or eight feet, 

 lives in great troops, lays eggs, each weighing nearly three pounds, 

 which, in very hot climates, it is contented with exposing in the sand 

 to the warmth of the sun; but over which, either on one side or the 

 other of the tropics, it broods with great care, defending them cou- 

 rageously every where. The Ostrich feeds on grass, grain, &c., 

 and so obtuse is its sense of taste that it swallows pebbles, pieces of 

 iron, copper, &c. Wlien pursued it dashes stones behind it with 

 great violence. No animal can overtake it in the race. 



Struth. rhea-f, L.; Nandou, Churi, &c., Hammer. An. Mus. XII, 

 xxxix; Vieill. Galer, 224. (The American Ostrich). Is about one 

 half smaller, with more thinly furnished feathers, of a uniform grey 

 colour, and particularly distinguished by its three toes all having 

 nails. Its plumage is greyish, browner on the back: a black line 

 along the back of the neck in the male. It is as common in the 

 southern parts of South America, as the preceding one is in Africa. 

 Its quills are used only in brooms. "VAIien taken young it is easily 

 tamed. Several females, it is said, lay, in the same nest, or rather, 

 the same hole, yellowish eggs, which are hatched by the male. It 

 is only eaten when very young. 



Casuarius, Briss. 



The Cassowaries have wings still shorter than those of the Ostrich, and 

 which are totally useless for running. There are three toes to all the 

 feet, each furnished with a nail ; the barbs, of their feathers are so poorly 

 provided with barbulae, that at a distance they resemble pendent hairs. 

 Two species are known, each of which might also constitute a genus. 



Struthio casuarius, Jj.; EmeuX, Enl. 313, and better, Frisch, 

 105 §. (The Emeu or Cassowary). The bill laterally compressed; 

 head surmounted by a bony prominence, covered with a horny sub- 

 stance ; skin of the head and top of the neck naked, of an azure-blue 

 and a fiery red colour, with pendent caruncles like those of the Tur- 

 key. The wing has some stems without barbs, which serve the bird 

 as weapons in combat; nail of the internal toe much the strongest. 

 It is the largest of all birds, next to the Ostrich, and differs conside- 



• See also the beautiful figure drawn by Marecbal in tlie Menag. du Mus. of La- 

 cep. and Cuvier, copied Vieill. Galer. pi. 223. 



f Brisson and Buffon, following Barr^re, have improperly applied to it the name 

 of Tonyou, or rather of Touiouiou, whicli belongs to the Jabiru. It is the genus Rhea 

 of Brisson. The Portuguese of Brazil have transferred to it the name of Emeu, 

 which properly belongs to the Cassowary. 



I Cassuwaris, the Malay name of this bird. According to Clusius, Erne, or Emeu, 

 is its peculiar appellation in Banda. 



§ There is also an excellent figure of it by Marechal in the Menag. du Mus., co- 

 pied Viell. Galer. pi. 225. 



