CURSORES AND RASORES. 5 I 3 



internal one of the two toes is much the largest, and is clawed. 

 the outer toe is small and clawless. The Ostriches run with 

 extraordinary speed, and can outstrip the fastest horse. They 

 are polygamous, each male consorting with several females, and 

 they generally keep together in larger or smaller flocks. The 

 eggs are of great size, averaging three pounds each in weight, 

 and the hens lay their eggs in the same nest, this being nothing 

 more than a hole scratched in the sand. The eggs appear to 

 be hatched mainly by the exertions of both parents, relieving 

 each other in the task of incubation, but also partly by the heat 

 of the sun.* 



The American Ostriches or Rheas are much smaller than 

 the African Ostrich, and have the head feathered, whilst the 

 feet are furnished with three toes each. The wings are rudi- 

 mentary, and the phalanges are plumed and terminated by a 

 spur. They inhabit the great plains of South America, and are 

 polygamous. 



The Emeu (Dromaius Novcz-HollandicB} is exclusively found 

 in the Australian continent, and nearly equals the African 

 Ostrich in size, attaining a height of from five to seven feet. 

 The feet are furnished with three toes each, and the head is 

 feathered. The throat, however, is naked, and the general 

 plumage resembles long hairs, the feathers hanging down on 

 both sides of the body from a central line or parting which 

 runs down the middle of the back. The Emeus are mono- 

 gamous, and the eggs are dark green in colour. The male 

 Emeu is smaller than the female, and undertakes all the duties 

 of incubation. 



The last of the Struthionidcz is the Cassowary (Casuarius 

 galeatus], which inhabits the Moluccan Islands and New 

 Guinea, and was first brought alive to Europe by the Dutch. 

 It stands about five feet in .height, and possesses a singular 

 horny crest upon its head. The head and neck are naked, 

 with pendant wattles, and the feet have three toes each. The 

 general plumage is black, and the feathers more or less closely 

 resemble hairs. The wings are rudimentary, each with five 

 naked pointed quills. The male is much the smallest, and sits 

 upon the eggs. Besides the Galeated Cassowary, other species 

 have been described from New Britain and North Australia. 



The second family of the Cursorial birds is that of the 

 Apttrygida, comprising only the singular Apteryx of New 

 Zealand. The beak in the Apteryx is long, slender, and 

 slightly curved, the tip being obtuse, and the nostrils placed 



* Mr Sclater. however, states that the duty of incubation is entirely 

 taken by the males. 



2 K 



