Mr Dalglcish on Birds and Eggs from Central Urugnay. 251 



These average l^V ^ M ii^ch, and are of the usual pigeon 

 type, oval, and of a pure white colour. 



The nest is a platform of small twigs, loosely built, and 

 was placed in a tree. Sometimes as many as two or three 

 nests, all containing eggs, may be found on the same tree. 



22, Rhea amcricana (Lath.) — native name "Avestruz " for 

 the adult, and " Nandu " for the young birds. — The Ehea, or 

 South American ostrich, although now much reduced in 

 numbers, on the southern bank of the Eiver Plate, is still 

 pretty numerous in Uruguay, where a law was passed about 

 two years ago for their protection. Its range extends from 

 Bolivia, Paraguay, and Southern Brazil, at least as far as the 

 Straits of Magellan, and Dr Cunningham {Proc. Zool. Soc. 

 1871, p. 105), says it may be regarded as certain, that a 

 species of Ehea occurs to the south of the Strait, in the large 

 eastern island of Tierra del Fuego, but whether it be refer- 

 able to this species or not is not known. It is still found in 

 considerable numbers in Patagonia, where an allied species, 

 Hhea darivinii, is also found to the south of the Eio Negro. 

 Towards its northern limits in Paraguay and Brazil, it is, 

 however, somewhat rare. They frequent the open plains, 

 where their food consists of roots, grass, seeds, and other 

 vegetable matter, also locusts. They are particularly fond of 

 the red berries of Emjpdriim riibrum, a common plant on 

 these plains. They are captured in large numbers by the 

 Indians and half-breeds, who chase them on horseback, and 

 surround them. These are armed with the bolas, which con- 

 sist of two wooden or metal balls, coupled together by a long 

 thong of hide, and which, being skilfully swung round the 

 head of the rider, are at length launched at the bird, and 

 becoming entangled round their legs and body, causes it to 

 fall an easy prey to its pursuers. They, however, run with 

 great swiftness, and frequently manage to escape. Their 

 feathers, although a marketable commodity, are not by any 

 means equal in value to those of the African ostrich, bring- 

 ing to their captors only from one to two dollars per pound, 

 while those of the latter are worth to the ostrich farmers of 

 the Cape about £5, or 25 dollars per pound weight. Doubt- 

 less, however, ostrich farming would be found profitable in 



