THE WORLD'S BIRDS. 143 



RHEAS (Rheida). 



DIAGNOSIS. Large running flightless birds, with three 

 toes and fairly large wings, folded as in ordinary 

 birds. 



SIZE. About four feet high or less. 



FORM. Bill flat and short, with central nostrils and 

 corner of mouth beneath centre of eye ; shanks 

 long, toes three, with no basal web ; no hind-toe ; 

 wings fairly large, folded at elbow and wrist as 

 in ordinary birds, covering the body like a cloak. 

 No external tail. General form of body noticeably 

 oval. 



PLUMAGE. Lax and soft, but less so than in other 

 large flightless birds ; the wing-quills long, body- 

 feathers short and close. Head, neck, and thighs 

 all completely feathered. No sex-difference. 



YOUNG. Active and feeding themselves ; down hairy- 

 looking, marked with a few light and dark longi- 

 tudinal stripes, much like young game-birds. 



NEST. A hollow in the ground, scratched out by the 

 male. 



EGGS. Numerous, unspotted, oval and smooth. 



INCUBATION. About six weeks, the male only sitting. 

 The time appears to vary greatly. 



COURTSHIP. The courting male droops his wings, 

 which reach to the ground. 



FOOD. Grass, herbage, etc. ; insects are the chief food 

 of the young at first. 



GAIT. A walk or very rapid run. They swim well. 



NOTE. A boom. 



DISPOSITION, HABITS, ETC. Wary, but easily tamed if 

 taken young. The breeding male is savage, 

 attacking with both bill and foot. 



ECONOMIC QUALITIES. The long wing-plumes are 

 called " Vautour " (vulture) in the feather trade, 

 and are a good deal used. They can be collected, 



