THE WORLD'S BIRDS. 163 



small, neck rather long, body heavy, with pro- 

 minent thighs. 



PLUMAGE AND COLOURATION. Powdery, brown, or 

 grey, either uniform or barred or speckled ; no 

 seasonal change or sexual difference, but the hen 

 is larger ; young like adults. 



YOUNG. Much like young rheas, clad in hairy-looking 

 down. They fledge very soon. 



NEST. None ; eggs being laid on bare ground. 



EGGS. Several ; oval, unspotted, richly coloured and 

 with a glazed appearance. 



INCUBATION. Three weeks ; it is performed by the 

 male only. 



COURTSHIP. In the Rufous Tinamou the male stands 

 up and displays his quills, stretching them down- 

 wards and forwards. 



FOOD. Grain, herbage, insects, etc. 



GAIT. A walk or run. 



FLIGHT. Heavy and direct, by continuous vibration 

 of the wings ; they cannot fly far. 



DISPOSITION AND HABITS. They are rather stupid ; 

 the hen is thoroughly masculine in character, and 

 seems to mate with several males. 



NOTE. A whistle, often very beautiful. 



ECONOMIC QUALITIES. They are excellent eating, and 

 good sporting birds, passing as partridges in South 

 America. 



CAPTIVITY. They live well, and some species have bred. 



DISTRIBUTION AND IMPORTANT SPECIES. There are 

 about seventy species, confined to Mexico, Central 

 and South America,; chiefly in wooded or grassy 

 country. They are usually ground-birds, but 

 at least one roosts at night. The most familiar 

 species is the Rufous Tinamou (Rhynchotus ru- 

 fescens), often imported to Europe, as large as a 

 small fowl, and barred black and dun, with cinna- 

 mon primary quills and a long bill. 



11* 



