RHE1DJ2. - STUTJTHIONID^fi. 



fc 



Rhea darwini, 

 Rhea darwini, Thien.Fortpflanz.ges. Vog. tab. ii. fig. 2 (1845-54) ; Hudson, 



p. 316; Sharpe, Hand-l i. p. 1 (1899). 



When fresh, the eggs of Darwin's Rhea are, according to 

 Mr. Hudson, of a deep, rich green colour. Some specimens in the 

 Collection have faded to a parchment-white ; others to a pale buff, 

 dull green or yellow. They measure from 5*2 to 5-4 in length, 

 and from 3* 4 to 3' 7 in breadth. 



1. South America. Georges Claraz, Esq. [P.]. 



2. South America. Sir W. Burnett [P.J. 



1. Argentine Republic. R. Lydekker, Esq. [P.], 



1. Patagonia. W. Moncreiffe, Esqt [P.]. 



1. Patagonia. Gould Coll. 



Rhea nana, described by Mr. Lydekker (Knowledge, xvii. 1894, 

 p. 265 ; Revista del Museo de la Plata, vi. 1894, p. 103, with fig. 

 of egg; P. Z. S. 1894, p. 654; Salvad. Cat. Birds B. M. xxvii. 

 p. 578, 1895), is at present known only from an egg. A cast 

 of this is in the British Museum Collection. It is a perfect ellipse 

 in form and measures 3-4 by 2-65. A cast of a somewhat similar 

 egg, measuring 3'65 by 2-7, has been presented to the British 

 Museum by Dr. Berg. It will be noticed that both these examples 

 are larger than the small egg of R. americana collected by 

 Mr. Holland, the measurements of which are given above. .The 

 validity of R. nana as a species, viewed in the light of the small 

 size of its egg, would therefore appear to be doubtful. 



Order STRUTHION IFO KM ES. 



Family STRUTHIONID^E. 



Genus STRUTHIO, Linn. 



The eggs of the Ostriches are spheroidal in form. The shell is 

 extremely strong, very smooth, and highly glossy. 



Four species of Ostriches are known, but their geographical range 

 has not yet been accurately ascertained. 



The eggs of S. camelus may be recognized by the absence of 

 punctures or pores on the shell, but those of the remaining three 

 species cannot be discriminated one from the other. 



