Oo 
GRALLATORLE. 25 
. ‘But two species are known, which might constitute two genera. 
Struthio camelus, L.; Enl.457*. (The Ostrich of the Eastern 
Continent). The feet have but two toes, the external of which is 
one half shorter than its fellow, and has no nail. This bird, so 
highly celebrated from the earliest ages, abounds in the sandy de- 
serts of Arabia and Africa. It attains the height of six or eight feet, 
lives in great troops, lays eggs, each weighing nearly three pounds, 
which, in very hot climates, it is contented with exposing in the sand 
to the warmth of the sun; but over which, either on one side or the 
other of the tropics, it broods with great care, defending them cou- 
rageously every where. ‘The Ostrich feeds on grass, grain, &c., 
and so obtuse is its sense of taste that it swallows pebbles, pieces of 
iron, copper, &c. When pursued it dashes stones behind it with 
great violence. No animal can overtake it in the race. 
Struth. rhea}, L.; Nandou, Churi, &c., Hammer. An. Mus. XII, 
xxxix; Vieill. Galer, 224. (The American Ostrich). Is about one 
half smaller, with more thinly furnished feathers, of a uniform grey 
colour, and particularly distinguished by its three toes all having 
nails. Its plumage is greyish, browner on the back: a black line 
along the back of the neck in the male. It is as common in the 
southern parts of South America, as the preceding one is in Africa. 
Its quills are used only in brooms. When taken young it is easily 
tamed. Several females, it is said, lay, in the same nest, or rather, 
the same hole, yellowish eggs, which are hatched by the male. It 
is only eaten when very young. 
Casuarius, Briss. 
The Cassowaries have wings still shorter than those of the Ostrich, and 
which are totally useless for running. There are three toes to all the 
feet, each furnished with a nail; the barbs of their feathers are so poorly 
provided with barbule, that at a distance they resemble pendent hairs. 
Two species are known, each of which might also constitute a genus, 
Struthio casuarius, L.; Emeut, Enl. 318, and better, Frisch, 
105§. (The Emeu or Cassowary). The bill laterally compressed ; 
head surmounted by a bony prominence, covered with a horny sub- 
stance; skin of the head and top of the neck naked, of an azure-blue 
and a fiery red colour, with pendent caruncles like those of the Tur- 
key. The wing has some stems without barbs, which serve the bird 
as weapons in combat; nail of the internal toe much the strongest. 
It is the largest of all birds, next to the Ostrich, and differs conside- 
id 
* See also the beautiful figure drawn by Maréchal in the Menag. du Mus. of La- 
cep. and Cuvier, copied Vieill. Galer. pl. 223. 
+ Brisson and Buffon, following Barrére, have improperly applied to it the name 
of Touyou, or rather of Touiouiou, which belongs to the Jabiru. Itis the genus Rhea 
of Brisson. The Portuguese of Brazil have transferred to it the name of Emeu, 
which properly belongs to the Cassowary. 
{ Cassuwaris, the Malay name of this bird. According to Clusius, Eme, or Emeu, 
is its peculiar appellation in Banda. 
§ There is also an excellent figure of it by Maréchal in the Menag, du Mus., co- 
pied Viell, Galer. pl. 225, 
