OSTRICHES AND EGGS 



63 



In this neighborhood we saw many ostriches as they are 

 generally called, though they are really rheas, differing from 

 their near relatives, the African ostriches, in having three 

 instead of two toes, each with claws instead of nails, in 

 the head and neck being fully covered with feathers, and 

 in the lack of tail plumes. They were usually in bands of 

 from four to ten, and in spite of their large size (about four 



Young Rhea or "Ostrich 



feet high) were surprisingly inconspicuous; for until they 

 moved, they were so like the background in color that they 

 were invisible, even when not over one hundred yards off. 

 They were always shy, and as soon as discovered, made off 

 with a lumbering gait which, though clumsy-looking, was 

 swift, and could outrun a horse in a straight race. Billy 

 tried them on Blackie who was a fast horse, but he could 

 not keep up. In hunting them advantage is taken of the 

 fact that they run in wide circles, and are obstinate about 



