THE RHEA. ' 505 



"there is always an odd uumber, some nests having been discovered with nine, others with 

 eleven, and others, again, with tliiiieen." The color of the eggs is, while fresh, a rich green, 

 of varying quality, but after the shells are emptied and exposed to tlie light, the beautiful 

 green hue fades into an unwholesome greenisli-brown. The parent birds sit upon their eggs, 

 as has been related of the ostrich. The Emeu is not jjolygamous, one male l)eing apportioned 

 to a single female. 



In captivity, the Emeu soon accommodntes itself to circumstances, and breeds fi-eely, and 

 seems as much at ease as if it were in tlic state of freedom. It is a most inquisitive bird. 

 inspecting every novelty with great attention. "I once," writes Dr. Bennett, "saw a fine 

 pair of full-grown specimens in a paddock near Sydney. Stopping to observe one which was 

 at a short distance from the fence, he immediately came down to have a look at me. 

 The second bird was some distance oif, but, ^vith their usual keenness of vision, on per- 

 ceiving me viewing his companion, he came stalking down rapidly, and they both stared at 

 me most attentively, stretching out their necks for the sake of making a nearer acquaintance, 

 when, linding no result from our interview, and their curiosity being satisfied, they quietly 

 stalked away. 



"In the Domain, near the Government House, some tame Emeus maybe seen walking 

 about, and often, near the Grand House, marching witli measured pace, as if keeping guard 

 with the soldiers on duty. One day, during the levee, wlien the Domain was ciowded with 

 people to see the arrivals and listen to the band, the Emeus mingled with the crowd, appar- 

 ently enjoying the gay scene around them, when some strangers, who were afraid of these 

 birds, ran away. On seeing this, the Emeus, enjoying a chase, i)ursued, and overtaking one 

 of tlie gentlemen, took off his liat, to his great surpi-ise. The above circumstance demonstrates 

 their fearless nature, and how readily these noble birds might be domesticated." 



The color of the adult bird is lightish-brown and gray, but when it is young, its plumage 

 is decorated with four l)road, lilack, longitudinal stripes down the back, and four on each side, 

 and four more down llie neck and breast. These stripes run in pairs, the two streaks of eai'h 

 pair being divided by a narrow line of wldte. Towards the head, the stripes are broken into 

 sjjots and dashes. The feathers are very loose, and hairy in tlieir appearance, and, as is the 

 case with all the Struthiones, will repay a close examination, on account of the great develop- 

 ment of the accessory plumes, springing from the shafts of the feathers. Tlie height of a fine 

 male Emeu is from six to seven feet. 



Another species belonging to the same genus, tlie Spotted Emeu {Drouiaius irrordtus), 

 is found in the same country, and can l)e distinguished by its black head and neck, and the 

 dashes of brownish-black and gray upon its plumage. 



America is not without representatives of this fine group of birds. 



The Rhea is a native of South America, and is especially plentiful along the River Plata. 

 It is generally seen in jiairs, though it sometimes associates together in flocks of twenty or 

 thirty in number. Like all the members of this group, it is a swift-footed and wary bird, but 

 possesses so little presence of mind that it becomes confused when threatened with danger, 

 runs aimlessly first in one direction, and then in another, thus giving time for the hunter to 

 come up and shoot it, or bring it to the ground with his "bolas" — a terrible weapon, consist- 

 ing of a cord with a heavy ball at each end, which is flung at the bird, and winds its coils 

 round its neck and legs, so as to entangle it, and Ining it to the ground. 



Tlie food of tlie Rhea consists mainly of grasses, rocjts, and other vegetable substances, Ibut 

 it will occasionally eat animal food, being known to come down to the mud banks of the river 

 for the purpose of eating the little fish that have been stranded in the shallows. 



Our knowledge of tlie Rhea and its habits is almost wholly derived from Mr. Darwin's 

 writings, and, as an original narrative is mostly superior to a second-hand description, part of 

 his account will be given in his own words. The reader must remember that the Rhea is 

 pofjularly called the Ostrich in South America. 



" This bird is well known to abound on the plains of La Plata. To the north it is found, 

 according to Azara, in Paraguay, where, however, it is not common ; to the south, its limit 



Vol. n.— 64. 



