THE NANDOU. 



391 



are tamed with the greatest ease, becoming very familiar in the 

 house, visiting the various apartments, wandering about the streets, 

 and even into the country ; but they always return to their homes 

 before sunset. 



The flesh of the adult Nandou is by no means agreeable ; that 

 of the young, on the contrary, is tender and sweet, and forms 



Fig. 154. The Nandou, or Ehea (Struthi-j It/iea, Linn.). 



excellent food. Its skin, when properly dressed, is used for 

 bags, purses, &c., and their feathers serve for plumes and light 

 dusting brooms. We owe the perfect knowledge of a second 

 species of Rhea to Mr. Darwin, who has given a figure and ample de- 

 scriptions of the bird and its habits in " The Voyage of the Beagle;" 

 it has been named in consequence Rhea Darrcinii. There is every 



