050 THE EHEA. 



guard with the soldiers on duty. One day, during the levee, when the Domain was 

 crowded with people to see the arrivals and listen to the band, the Emeus mingled Avith 

 the crowd, apparently enjoying the gay scene around them, when some strangers, who 

 were afraid of these birds, ran away. On seeing this, the Emeus, enjoying a chase, 

 pursued, and overtaking one of the gentlemen, took off his hat, to his great surprise. The 

 above circumstance demonstrates their fearless nature, and how readily these noble birds 

 might be domesticated." 



The colour of the adult bird is lightish brown and grey, but when it is young, its 

 plumage is decorated with four broad, black, longitudinal stripes down the back, and four 

 on each side, and four more down the neck and breast. These stripes run in pairs, the 

 two streaks of each pair being divided by a narrow line of white. Towards the head, the 

 stripes are broken into spots and dashes. The feathers are very loose, and hairy in their 

 appearance, and, as is the case with all the Struthiones, will repay a close examination, on 

 account of the great development of the accessory plumes, springing from the shafts of 

 the feathers. The height of a fine male Emeu is from six to seven feet. 



Another species belonging to the same genus, the SPOTTED EMEU (Dromaius irrordtus), 

 is found in the same country, and can be distinguished by its black head and neck, and 

 the dashes of brownish black and grey upon its plumage. 



AMEKICA is not without representatives of this fine group of birds, three distinct 

 species being even now (1861) in the gardens of the Zoological Society. 



The EHEA is a native of South America, and is especially plentiful along the river 

 Plata. It is generally seen in pairs, though it sometimes associates together in flocks of 

 twenty or thirty in number. Like all the members of this group, it is a swift-footed and 

 wary bird, but possesses so little presence of mind that it becomes confused when 

 threatened with danger, runs aimlessly first in one direction, and then in another, thus 

 giving time for the hunter to come up and shoot it, or bring it to the ground with his 

 " bolas " a terrible weapon, consisting of a cord with a heavy ball at each end, which is 

 flung at the bird, and winds its coils round its neck and legs, so as to entangle it, and 

 bring it to the ground. 



The food of the Ehea consists mainly of grasses, roots, and other vegetable substances, 

 but it will occasionally eat animal food, being known to come down to the mud banks of the 

 river for the purpose of eating the little fish that have been stranded in the shallows. 



Our knowledge of the Ehea and its habits is almost wholly derived from Mr. Darwin's 

 writings, and, as an original narrative is mostly superior to a second-hand description, 

 part of his account will be given in his own words. The reader must remember that thu 

 Ehea is popularly called the Ostrich in South America. 



" This bird is well known to abound on the plains of La Plata. To the north 

 it is found, according to Azara, in Paraguay, where, however, it is not common ; to the 

 south, its limit appears to have been from 42 to 43. It has not crossed the Cordilleras, 

 but I have seen it within the first range of mountains in the Uspallata plain, elevated 

 between six and seven thousand feet. They generally prefer running against the wind, 

 yet, at the instant, they expand their wings, and, like a vessel, make all sail. On one 

 fine hot day I saw several Ostriches enter a bed of tall rocks, where they squatted 

 concealed till nearly approached. 



It is not generally known that Ostriches readily take to the water. Mr. King informs 

 me that at Patagonia, in the Bay of St. Bias, and at Port Valdez, he saw these birds 

 swimming several times from island to island. They ran into the water both when driven 

 down to a point, and likewise of their own accord, when not frightened. The distance 

 crossed was about two hundred yards. When swimming, veiy little of their bodies 

 appears above water, and their necks are stretched a little forward ; their progress is slow. 

 On two occasions I saw some Ostriches swimming across the Santa Cruz Eiver, where it 

 was about four hundred yards wide, and the stream rapid. 



The inhabitants who live in the country readily distinguish, even at a distance, the 

 male bird from the female. The former is larger and darker coloured, and has a larger 

 head. The Ostrich, I believe the cock, emits a singular deep-toned hissing note. Wben 



