BIRDS. 431 



haughtily over his body, he swings it swaggeringly from side to side, at 

 each movement knocking his head violently against his body. In this 

 performance he partly fills his throat with air, so that every thud is accom- 

 panied by a peculiar gurgling sound ; while keeping time to these move- 

 ments, his great wings swing alternately backward and forward in a 

 boastful manner. This is called the 'challenge.' It is well named, for 

 ' there is a bragging, tread-on-the-tail-o'-me-coat air about it that would be 

 irresistibly laughable — if only it could be seen from the safe side of a tall 

 fence, instead of over the low barrier of dried bushes, of which most camps 

 are composed. ... If, however, the bird gets near enough to his opponent 

 to give the so-called kick, he lifts his bony leg as high as his body, and 

 brings it down with terrible force. His object is to rip the enemy down 

 with his dangerous claw ; but in most cases it is the flat bottom of his foot 

 which strikes ; and the kick is dangerous as much from its sheer power as 

 from its lacerating effects. It is a movement of terrible velocity and 

 power, at all events. Several instances may be mentioned of herd-boys 

 being thus wounded, maimed, or killed outright. One case occurred near 

 Graaff Reinet, in which a horse had its back broken by a single blow. In 

 this case the bird had endeavored to kill the rider, but missed him and 

 struck the horse." When attacked, and without a tree or other shelter, the 

 keepers usually lie flat on the ground, so that the bird cannot strike them. 

 But even then there is trouble, for the bird will trample on him and roll 

 over him in the most contemptuous manner. The drivers usually arm 

 themselves with a thorny stick, which they present to the neck, the most 

 sensitive portion of the enraged bird, and thus easily keep him out of 

 striking distance. 



The ostriches of South America differ considerably from those of Africa, 

 but the only peculiarity which we need to mention is the possession of 

 three toes to the feet. There are three species of them, but all are grouped 

 under the common names of nandu and avestruz. In their distribution 

 they range from southern Brazil to the Strait of Magellan. In height, they 

 stand from five to six feet ; in color, the common form is brownish gray 

 above, and nearly white upon the belly. Their feathers are worth but 

 little in comparison with those of their African cousin, and still a bird 

 may produce five or six dollars' worth when sold in the home market. 

 They are strong runners, but do not equal the true ostriches in this 

 respect, and hence are more easily hunted. 



In Australia the emu represents the ostrich group, and, like its relatives 

 already mentioned, it lives on the plains. Formerly it was very abundant ; 

 but now, owing to a merciless persecution, it has been driven from all the 

 settled portions of that island-continent. It is hunted largely for ' sport ' ; 



