ZOO 
NOTES. 
escribed and illustrated with Photographs by W. P. Danpo, 9.z.s. 
THE Rhea, or, as it is sometimes called, the 
American Ostrich, is smaller 
than the true ostrich, and the 
whole plumage is much more 
sombre, but the feathers, as in the ostrich 
and apteryx, have no 
after shaft. There 
are two well-estab- 
lished species—Rhea 
americana (the com- 
mon) and Rhea dar- 
win (Darwin's rhea), 
the former ranging 
from Bolivia and 
the south of Brazil, 
the latter eastern 
Patagonia. These 
birds exhibit very 
similar habits to 
the ostrich, and, 
although they are 
incapable of flight, 
the wings are better 
developed than in 
any other of the 
so-called “struthrous” birds. To make up 
for their incapacity of flight, they can run 
with very great rapidity, and both sexes 
have the curious habit of forming a kind 
of sail with one of their wings by raising 
it above their back when running from their 
pursuers. The colour of their eggs is white, 
and it is the male bird which incubates; 
during this period he is very ferocious and 
even dangerous, having been known to 
attack aman on horseback ; being possessed 
of a claw on each of his three digits, he can 
inflict some very nasty wounds. 
The Common 
and 
Darwin Rhea. 
COMMON RHEA. 
wa 
Mr. Wauter Roruscurp has again fur- 
nished a unique addition to 
the reptile house at the Zoo, 
and anyone who has _ not 
observed the Fringed Gecko 
lose no time in seeing this 
Fringed 
Gecko. 
carefully 
should 
curious reptile. There is something very 
weird and uncanny in the appearance of 
this strange-looking animal, which is the 
sole member of a genus characterised by the 
presence of an expansion of skin running 
down the sides of its body and legs, the 
neutral colour of which has dabs or patches 
of greyish-white markings which are no 
doubt protective, as 1s proven by the fact 
that since the reptile has been at the Zoo 
its general colour and that of the patchy 
markings have changed perceptibly, and has 
now assumed an appearance nearer in colour 
to its surroundings. Although the gecko 
is between seven and eight inches long, 
many visitors have been observed to pass 
the vivarium when the animal has been 
prominently spread out on a small tree 
branch without noticing it. A native of 
Madagascar, the frmged gecko which, Flan- 
court (Histoire de U Ile Madagascar) says, lives 
on flies and small insects, has the ability ~ 
of attaching itself to trees by means of 
minute sharp claws at the tips of its limbs, 
chin, and tail, which, although invisible, 
eive the animal the power of attaching 
itself so strongly that it has the appearance 
of being glued on to the branch. The tail, 
DARWIN'S RHEA,. 
240 
