LIVING IN THE SOCIETY'S MENAGERIE. 355 



Prince Bonaparte has invented a name, Struthio epoasticus (!) (Compt. Rend, xliii. 

 p. 785), which refers, I believe, to the story that one species of Ostrich has been stated 

 to sit upon its eggs {ewwaZeiv) ; but I do not believe that this is intended for either the 

 Northern or Southern bird as distinguished from each other. 



The Ostrich of the Syrian and Arabian Deserts, mentioned by Col. Chesney (Journ. 

 Euphr. Exp. i. p. 588), Dr. Layard (Nineveh, i. p. 324), and other writers, and fre- 

 quently referred to in the Holy Scriptures', should also be carefully examined. It is 

 not improbable that it may turn out to be a third species or well-marked local variety. 



In the interior of Africa there is said, by some of the older writers, to exist a dimi- 

 nutive Ostrich {L'Autruchon). I have lately received some information on this subject ' 

 from Mr. J. Petherick, H.B.M. Consul for the Sudan, who tells me that his hunters have 

 actually had this bird alive ; and I have requested him to endeavour to procure further 

 evidence on this point. 



The figure (PI. LXVII. a.) represents a very fine adult male of the Northern Ostrich, 

 received with two females from Barbary in 1859, and presented to the Society by 

 Her Majesty The Queen. 



II. Rhea. 



Of the American form of the Struthionidts we have living examples of three species. 



1. Rhea Americana. (PI. LXVIII.) 



Struthio rhea, Linn. 

 Rhea americanu, Lath. 



Fig. 1. 



Cape, under the care of the Society's agent, Mr. Benstead. They are now placed next to the Society's former 

 examples, which were received from Barbary in 1859. The most noticeable differences observable in the living 

 birds are that the naked skin in the Cape examples is bluish (not reddish), and the neck thickly feathered, the 

 top of the head being also covered with hair-like feathers. In the Barbary bird the top of the head is bare. 

 ' Isaiah, ch. xiii. ver. 21 : Lamentations, iy. 3 : Job, xxxix. 13 ei seq. 



3d 2 



