390 GEALLATOEES, OE WADING BIEDS. 



ornaments, so sought after by the fair sex, are found on the 

 Ostrich's tail and wings ; they have been used from time imme- 

 morial for the adornment both of man and woman. The Roman 

 soldiers decked their helmets with them, and the Janissaries their 

 turbans, when they had distinguished themselves by any glorious 

 deed. At the present day there is a large demand for them. 

 The plumes of the male bird are more highly valued than those of 

 the female, and all are superior when plucked from the living 

 bird. 



Several Libyan nations in former days used the skin of the 

 Ostrich for a cuirass, and even at the present time some 

 Arabian tribes put it to the same use. The shells of Ostrich 

 eggs, which are very hard, are also utilised ; they are made into 

 beautiful cups, which much resemble vases of ivory. The Africans 

 annually destroy a large number of these birds ; yet their race 

 does not appear to diminish. It is a most useful creature, and 

 too much encouragement cannot be given to the trials which 

 have been made in Algeria and elsewhere to rear the Ostrich 

 in flocks on an extensive scale. 



The NANDOU, RHEA, or AMERICAN OSTRICH (Fig. 154), bears 

 the greatest resemblance to the Ostrich, of which it is the repre- 

 sentative in the New World ; but it is only about half the size 

 of the African bird, and has three toes in front instead of two. 

 The colour of its plumage is a uniform grey. 



The Nandou (called by the Brazilians Nhandu-Guaqu) inhabits 

 the Pampas of South America, the coolest valleys in Brazil, Chili, 

 Peru, and Magellan's Land. There these birds may be seen 

 wandering over the open plains in flocks of about thirty, in 

 company with herds of oxen, horses, and sheep. They browse on 

 the grass like grazing animals, searching at the same time for 

 various seeds. They run nearly as swiftly as the Ostrich, 

 and are well able, by speed, to escape the pursuit of their ene- 

 mies. If a river comes in their way, they do not hesitate to 

 plunge into it, as they are excellent swimmers ; indeed, so 

 fond are they of water that they take a pleasure in washing and 

 bathing. 



The Nandou lays its eggs and incubates them in the same 

 manner as the Ostrich. They are birds of a gentle nature, and 



