NINTH ANNUAL REPORT. 



209 



PAIR 111 Kill \>. 



These birds are good swimmers, and have been seen playing 

 in the waves of the sea some distance from land. This may 

 partly account for their distribution among so many small, adja- 

 cent islands. 



THE i<iii:.\. 



The Rhea is the onl\- member of the Katite birds found in our 

 hemisphere. It ranges over the open, treeless plains or pampas 

 of South America, associating with herds of deer and guanacos, 

 just as in Africa, ostriches seem to enjoy the company of zebras 

 and antelopes. They feed on grasses, berries and seeds, but in 

 captivity they are almost as omnivorous as the ostrich. 



An interesting superficial ])arallelism exists between this bird 

 and the ostrich, brought about entirely by life in similar environ- 



