FAMILY P KESSIROSTKATA. FLAT-BEAKED. 



83 



already mentioned, and consequently the hatch is deferred beyond the usual 

 period. The Hottentot method of cooking these eggs consists in making a 

 hole at one end, into which a forked stick is introduced, and twisted about 

 till the yolk and white are perfectly mixed ; the shell is then placed on the 

 fire and constantly turned till the inside has acquired the consistence of a 

 boiled egg. 



The flesh of the ostrich is used as food by the African tribes : it is dark- 

 coloured, coarse, tough, and resembling beef ; but the stomach is considered 

 the choice part, being most tender and delicate. 



The feathers, so highly prized as ornaments of dress, are from the wings, 

 and not from the tail as generally supposed. 



RHEA (Americana) Nandu. Measures about four feet nine inches in 

 height ; upper and back part of the head blackish, and from the nape a 

 black stripe passes down the neck to its junction with the trunk, where it 

 expands and forms a collar surrounding its whole circumference ; the other 

 parts of the head and neck white ; general colour of the plumage of the 

 body white, except on the back, where it is leaden ; shoulders and scapulars 

 ashy, as are also the alar quills, except the primaries, which are white at 

 their roots and blackish in the middle ; legs flesh-coloured. It is found only 

 in South America. The fi-male begins to lay towards the end of August, 

 and the young begin to be hatched about the early part of November ; at 

 this time the mother's call resembles that of the human whistle. When 

 undisturbed, their walk is slow and majestic, carrying the head and neck 

 upright and the back rounded ; but in making their escape from their 

 enemies, their speed is so great that they outstrip the fleetest dogs and 

 horses, and when surprised are caught only with the lasso. Much caution, 

 however, is required in approaching them, even when hampered in the cord, 

 as they kick so violently as to break even stones. The Indians use their 

 larger feathers for making parasols, bags, and other ornaments. 



CASUARIUS. The Cassowary (C. Galeatus) is not quite so tall as the 

 Ostrich but nearly as large ; it has upon the forehead a bony projection 

 covered with a thin plate of horn about an inch broad at the base and three 

 inches in height, resembling the casque of a helmet ; the beak is compressed 

 laterally, and the tips of the mandibles are slightly sloped ; the head is 

 covered with a bluish skin, having a few scattered black hairs which form 

 a circle round the external opening of the ear, which is very large ; this 

 blue skin, which extends to the middle of the neck, is studded with pits 

 and caruncles ; and on either side of the throat a wattle depends, which is 

 broadest below and of a reddish colour ; the eye is small, and the upper lid 

 studded with hairs like an eyebrow, which gives the bird a threatening 

 aspect ; the iris topaz-coloured ; the lower part of the neck is covered with 

 short feathers, which become longer as they pass along the back to the 

 rump ; the thighs are also feathered to the tarsus. The general colour of 

 both male and female is black ; the eggs are greyish-white thickly spotted 

 with green, and are carefully covered up in the sand by the parent. This 

 bird is a native of the south-eastern parts of Asia, the Moluccas, Sumatra, 

 Java, &c., but they are rare ; it has been introduced into Amboina, but is 

 not indigenous. Valentyn compares the voice of a Cassowary to that of a 

 young chicken. Though a very heavy bird, and considered by the natives 

 as stupid, it runs more quickly than the Ostrich, running a few steps and 

 then bounding forward on both feet ; it is very difficult to catch, and when 

 attacked it strikes violently with its beak and feet. 



DROMARIUS (Ater) New Holland Cassowary, the Emeu of the settlers. 

 Beak depressed ; a circle of naked skin surrounds the ear ; the head and 

 neck are covered scantily with feathers, particularly the throat, so that the 

 purple hue of the skin is easily seen ; it lias no prominence on the head, 

 nor has it spines or caruncles on the wings, which are shorter than those of 

 the Cassowary ; the plumage is of a dusky brown merging to black ; the 

 legs, which are of the same colour, are crenated behind, and the nails of 

 the toes are equal in size. It is very quick, surpassing in speed the best 

 Greyhound. It utters a deep clucking noise like a heavy stroke on a muffled 

 dram. The eggs are of a bright green, and about the same size as those of 

 the Cassowary. Is a native of New Holland ; its flesh is said to taste like 

 beef. 



Family FLAT-BEAKED ; Pressirostrata. 



This family includes a number of genera having elongated tarsi, in which 

 the hind toe is either wanting or so short as not to reach the ground. The 

 bill is sufficiently strong to bore into the earth in search of worms. 



ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLES. 



Genera. 



PLATE 12. 



Species. 



Otis ... 



(Edicnemus 



Charadrius - 



Vanellus 



Hsematopus 



Cursorius - 



Dicholophus 



Tarda - - - 



Crepitans - - 



Pluvialis - - 



Melanogaster - 



Ostralegus - - 



Chalcopterus - 



Cristata - - 



Common Name. 



Great Bustard. 

 Common Thick-knee. 

 Golden Plover. 

 Grey Sand-piper. 

 Pied Oyster-catcher. 

 Bronze-winged Courser. 

 Narcgrave's Cariama. 



CHAEACTEES OF THE GENERA. 



1. OTIS. Beak not as long as the head, straight, conical, compressed or 

 slightly depressed at the base ; point of the upper mandibles slightly arched ; 

 nostrils close to each other, oval and patulous, and far from the base ; wings 

 of moderate length, the third quill-feather the longest, the second not so 

 long, and the first the shortest of the three ; legs long, naked above the knee ; 

 feet three-toed, the toes short, united at their roots, and edged with mem- 

 brane ; claws flattened. 



2. (EDICNEMUS (Gr. oiStia, I swett, and Kvriftr), a knee). Beak longer 

 than the head, straight, strong, slightly depressed at the base, and com- 

 pressed towards the tip ; ridge of upper mandible elevated, lower mandible 

 angular; nostrils in the middle of the beak, longitudinal, and perforated 

 tlirough and through ; wings of moderate length, the first quill-feather rather 

 shorter than the second, which is longest of all ; tail graduated ; legs long 

 and slender ; three toes in front, connected to the second joint by membrane 

 which is continued along the edges of the toes. 



3. CHARADRIUS (Gr. -xapaoow, I excavate). Beak short, slender, 

 straight, and compressed, its tip obtuse ; nostrils linear, feet formed for run- 

 ning, three-toed, the outer toes connected at their base by membranes ; tail 

 rounded or wedge-shaped ; wings in some species armed with a spur. 



4. VANELLUS. Beak short, slender, straight, compressed, and the tip of 

 both mandibles swelling, the base of the upper one very wide from the 

 lengthening of the nasal grooves ; nostrils lateral, pierced in the membrane 

 of the grooves ; wings pointed or large ; in some species the bend of the 

 wing armed with a long sharp spur ; legs slender, having three toes in front 

 and one behind, almost rudimental, and not touching the ground, the middle 

 and outer toes connected by a very short membrane. 



5. H.EMATOPUS (Gr. aifiToeit, bloody, and irovt, a foot). Beak long, 

 slender, strong, straight, and compressed, tip square like a pair of scissors ; 

 nostrils linear, placed near the base of the groove in the upper mandible ; 

 wings of moderate length, the first quill-feather the longest ; legs strong and 

 muscular, having the tarsi reticulated, and three toes in front, of which the 

 outer is connected by membrane to the middle as far as the first joint, and 

 the inner to the middle by a short membrane ; all the toes edged with a 

 narrow membrane, and the nails short and slightly curved. 



6. CURSORIUS. Bill, slender, conical, about the length of the head ; 

 mandibles arched, compressed at tips, which is sharp ; wings short ; legs 

 long ; three toes, without any thumb or palmature, middle toe the longest, 



7. DICHOLOPHUS. Beak long, curved ; legs long, scutellated ; toes three, 

 short, and palmated ; thumb short. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIES. 



OTIS Bustard. The Bustards seem to form the connecting link between 

 the Gallinaceous and Wading birds, by the firm carriage and the connection 

 of the toes, together with their membranous edging of the former with the 

 long bare legs of the latter. They are shy, heavy birds, rarely flying, except 

 when they cannot escape pursuit by running, in which they are very swift, 

 and then they fly long and rapidly. They prefer sandy and rocky districts 

 far from water, and feed on herbs, grain, insects, and worms. There is but 



M2 



