PATAGONIAN EXPEDITIONS: ZOOLOGY. 



which area proceed two lateral crescents of like color, one on either side 

 of the breast. 



Wings : Short and imperfect. 



Secondaries brown on the apical part, some of the inner ones partly 

 and others, a few generally, wholly white. 

 Tail not apparent. Rump whitish. 

 Lower parts in general, whitish. 



Legs: Feathered portion whitish. Feet and unfeathered portion yel- 

 lowish horn brown, darkest on the tarsus. 



Metatarsus with transverse scutes throughout entire length. (See fig. 2.) 

 Bill : Yellow horn brown. Iris : Dark hazel brown. 



Adult female paler in color than male. 

 Geographical Range. From central Brazil, south- 

 ward throughout Argentina. 



FIG. 2. 



The collection made by Mr. Hatcher did not include 

 individuals of this species, but he tells me that the birds 

 were met with a number of times, that some were pre- 

 served and afterward destroyed by vermin while in 

 storage awaiting shipment. 



So far as known the habits of Rhea americana are 

 not to be distinguished from its near ally, Rhea dar- 

 wini, Gould. 



It seems probable that Rhea americana occurs spar- 

 ingly and locally throughout Patagonia, where it is 

 replaced by the more common Rhea darwini. 



Darwin in the account of his travels in Southern 

 South America dwelt so fully on the habits and modes 

 of life of the Rhea and its close ally, R. darwini that extracts are here 

 appended as follows: 



"The 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 be from 42 to 43. It 

 has not crossed the Cordillera ; but I have seen it within the first range 

 of mountains on the Uspallata plain, elevated between six and seven 



Lower leg of Rhea 

 americana, showing 

 feathering and scute 

 pattern. \ natural 

 size. 



