Cape San Antonio, Buenos Ayres. 167 
3qp X 2qig to 322X213. There is no difference between the 
autumn or winter broods and the spring ones, either in the 
number of eggs in the clutch or in their size and colour. 
The young, when hatched, are covered with an abundance 
of beautifully soft down, of a yellow-brown colour. Even 
at this age the larger wing-spurs may be felt through the 
down. In avery few days they leave the nest and follow the 
parent birds, generally remaining in tbe swamps or close to 
them; though I have a note, dated Ist February, which refers 
to four in down seen with the old birds at a considerable 
distance from water. ven when what seems to be the adult 
plumage is acquired, they still remain under the parent birds’ 
care, and are as yet unable to use their wings. The nest- 
ling’s note is a feeble chirp ; and the cry, like the power of 
flight, is long in being attained. 
60. Ruta americana. ‘ Avestruz.’’ 
_Is nearly extirpated in this district. There are still some 
on the neighbouring estancia, up towards Cape San Antonio ; 
and we also have a few in the fastnesses of the more inac- 
cessible rincones. My father lately gave strict orders anent 
the preservation of the Rhea—the “ Perdiz grande,” Rhyn- 
chotus rufescens, Temm. (at least I believe it is this species), 
a few of which are also to be found in the rincones, and its 
congener, the “ Perdiz comun,” Nothura maculosa, Temm., 
the latter being fast thinned out. But in this country the 
enforcement of any such decree is rather difficult. I was once 
told by three Basques whom I found shooting Ducks on our 
land, that they “had the best of the argument, for they had 
each a gun, and I was unarmed ;” and though the remark 
was made half in jest, and I retorted in the same spirit that, 
“as I was on horseback, and they on foot, I was in a position 
to ride round them and argue with a series of six very weighty 
and convincing facts, and that at a long range,’ yet I had 
just to be content with warning them against being found on 
the land again. 
The Rhea, if run in a straight line, will draw away from 
almost any horse. I took up the chase on one occasion as an 
