1 88 CHARACTERS OF VERTEBRATE ANIMALS 



African Ostriches are distributed through the deserts of Africa, 

 and also range into Arabia and Syria. The small flat head is 

 provided with a strong, broad beak, capable of being opened 

 very widely, and large eyes surrounded with small bristly feathers 

 resembling eyelashes. Both the head and the long neck are 

 covered with long fluffy feathers. The legs are immensely 

 powerful, and are used as weapons as well as for locomotion. 

 Only two toes are present the third and fourth, the former 

 being much the larger, and there is a soft pad on the under 

 side of each, much as in a camel. The* plumage of the female 

 is grey, that of the male black, except the wings and tail, which 

 are pure white. There are no after-shafts to the feathers. The 

 nest is simply a hollow made in the sand, and several hens lay 

 their yellowish-white eggs in it. The work of incubation is 

 almost entirely done by the male. 



There are apparently several species of ostrich, the most 

 familiar one (Stiuthio camelus) being distinguished by its red 

 neck, while an East African form has a bluish neck, and this 

 region is grey in a smaller kind from South Africa. 



American Ostriches or Rheas are only found in South 

 America, and can be distinguished at once by the presence of 

 three toes, less modified than those of the African form, feather- 

 covered head and neck, larger wings, and no tail. In structure 

 (including the absence of after-shaft) and habits they resemble 

 in most points the African forms, and their eggs are of similar 

 colour. The plumage is grey, and both sexes closely resemble 

 one another in this respect. 



Three species are recognized, of which the Common Rhea 

 (Rhea Americana) is largest and best known. It is commonest 

 in the pampas region of the Argentine Republic, ranging north 

 to Bolivia and south to the Rio Negro. Darwin's Rhea (Rhea 

 Darwini) is found from the east of Patagonia to some distance 

 north of the above-named river, while the Long -billed Rhea 

 (Rhea macrorhynca] is limited to North-east Brazil. 



Cassowaries and Emeus are to be regarded as the ostriches 

 of the Australian region. They agree with the rheas in possessing 

 three toes, but the wings are much reduced, the feathers appear 

 double from the presence of very large after-shafts, and the eggs 

 are green and rough. 



The Emeu (Dromceus\ found only on the Australian continent 



