234 DR. p. L. SCLATER ON THE [Juiie 9, 



2. The Rheas {Rhea americana and R. macroi-hyncha). 



The little male Rhea upon which I have founded my species R. 

 macrorhyncha has been associated in the Gardens for the last two 

 years with a female of the common species, R. americana. Last 

 year the pair bred in the Gardens for the first time — the male making 

 the nest, arranging the eggs, and performing the whole duties of in- 

 cubation. Two young birds were reared, which are still living in the 

 Gardens. This year the male bird commenced to sit on the 8th of 

 May, at which time there were only two eggs in the nest. The 

 female, however, continued to lay, and there are now twelve eggs. 

 The eggs of the Rheas hatched in the incubator required thirty-five 

 days, or five weeks, to hatch ; and, as far as we can make out, this 

 appears to be about the normal period of incubation. Other instances 

 have occurred of the Rhea americana breeding in this country, in 

 which the same course has been pursued. 



3. The Cassowaries (Casuarius galeatus and C. bennettii). 



The Common Cassowary of Ceram (^Casuarius galeatus), though 

 it frequently deposits eggs in captivity, has never, I believe, been 

 known to breed. Birds of this species, even when of different sexes, 

 are usually very savage, and cannot safely be placed together. But 

 the pair of Mooruks (C. bennettii) which we received from Au- 

 straUa in 1858 have been successfully brought together, by the care 

 and skill of our excellent keeper, Michael Scott, and have last year 

 and again this year bred in our Gardens. The male in this bird, 

 again, performs the duties of incubation, the female not interfering in 

 the matter. Last year, after an incubation which lasted seven weeks, 

 a single young one was hatched on the 4 th of September, which was 

 unfortunately destroyed by rats the same day. This year the male 

 commenced to sit on the 25th of April on six eggs, and we hope to be 

 more fortunate. 



4. The Emeu {DromtBus novce hoUandice). 



The Emeu has bred several times in our Gardens, and at other 

 places in this country. It is well known that the male bird of this 

 species also performs all the incubatory duties. An interesting 

 account of the breeding of the Emeu has been published in the 

 * Zoologist ' for January last, by Mr. William Bennett, where full 

 particulars will be found relating to this subject. The period of in- 

 cubation in the Emeu appears to be eight weeks. 



5. The Kiwi (^Apteryx mantelli. 



The Apteryx is so scarce a bird, even in New Zealand, that it can 

 hardly be expected that we should be well acquainted with its mode 

 of reproduction. H. E. Sir George Grey has lately sent me the 

 following extract from a letter addressed to him by F. E. Manning, 

 Esq., dated Hokianga, on the north-western coast of the Northern 

 Island, February 2nd, 1863:— 



" Several years ago an old native, who had been a great Kiwi- 

 hunter in the times when the Kiwi were plentiful, told me a strange 



