Darwin's Rhea 69 



being found containing 120 eggs." The incubation is conducted entirely by the 

 male, who watches over the young with great solicitude. The eggs when fresh 

 are a fine golden yellow, but they grow paler day by day, until finally they fade 

 to a parchment white. Eggs are frequently laid away from the nest, scattered 

 on the pampas, for after the male begins sitting on the eggs he drives the hens 

 away furiously, forcing them to deposit the eggs at random. 



The Long-billed Rhea (R. macrorhyncha), a bird similar in size and habits 

 to the one just described, is found only in northeastern Brazil. It is browner in 

 color and has the crown darker and the bill longer. It must be quite rare. 



The smallest of the Rheas is known as Darwin's Rhea (R. darwini), the first 

 specimen having been obtained by him while on the celebrated voyage of the 

 Beagle. It is only thirty-six inches in length and is found in Patagonia, mainly 

 south of the Rio Negro. "When pursued it frequently attempts to elude the 

 sight by suddenly squatting down among the bushes, which have a gray foliage, 

 to which the color of its plumage closely assimilates." It has much the same 

 habit of holding up the wings when running as the Common Rhea, but usually 

 it runs with its neck stretched forward, thus making it appear even lower than it 

 really is. The nests are similar to those of the other species, each often containing 

 50 or more eggs. The eggs when first laid are a deep, rich green ; this fades to a 

 yellowish, then a stone blue, and finally almost white. Many waste eggs are 

 found at a distance from the nest. 



Darwin's Rhea was formerly very abundant, but the fluffy wing-feathers 

 were exported in large quantities to be used in the manufacture of feather dusters, 

 and as a result the birds have become extremely scarce except in the far interior. 

 They were captured, as are the other species at the present time, by means of 

 the bolos, the well-known South American sling. The one used for Rheas con- 

 sists of two half-pound leaden balls connected by eight feet of twisted rawhide 

 twine. When thrown with proper precision it entangles the legs of the birds, 

 and they become an easy prey. The birds are approached on a fleet horse until 

 within proper throwing distance, or sometimes a whole community of natives 

 unite in enclosing a large area of country, driving the birds towards a constantly 

 decreasing circle, when they are all captured. In recent years firearms have 

 been resorted to, and it would seem that these splendid birds are likely to be 

 wholly exterminated unless steps are taken to protect them. 



