Mar., 1908 



NOTES ON THE RHEA OR SOUTH AMERICAN OSTRICH 



71 



The young bird is quick to grasp the spirit of his wild existence and leaves the 

 nest when scarcely dry. When left alone they feed together in a flock, eagerly 

 running after insects, and picking at everything that looks green and tempting. 

 His free life makes him jealous of his liberty and it is difficult to capture a young 

 bird. Once caught, however, they are easily tamed, and except for their fondness 

 for houseplants and garden truck they would make a handsome fowl about the farm. 



On the open panipa the rhea is a very shy bird, making off at the first approach 

 of danger. If a choice of direction permits he chooses the wind and runs against it 

 with wings outstretched when greatly alarmed. A horse is no match whatever in 

 speed or endurance on a fresh start, and the native hunter aims to exhaust the bird 

 with dogs, and then approach closely enough, if necessary with a final dash to en- 

 snare him with the bolas. The farmers on some of the ranches forbid the molesta- 

 tion of the rheas by the peons or their dogs, and thus afford in season an abundance 

 of fresh eggs close at hand. These birds, accustomed to the sight of man, gave me a 

 chance to photograph them at rather close range, but the lack of contrast in their 

 outline and that of their background makes the picture quite unsatisfactory. 



The rhea hunter of the pampa is a picturesque character and a typical nomad. 

 A few well-seasoned horses and a 



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NEST OF Rhea darwini with 42 EGGS 



troupe of half a dozen dogs with 

 long legs and plenty of endurance 

 form the chief part of his outfit. 

 A recado or blanket saddle fur- 

 nishes at once a seat and a bed; a 

 small kettle to boil water for his 

 mate or native tea, with its drink- 

 ing outfit is the extent of his 

 culinary equipment, and matches, 

 tobacco, a knife and the bolas com- 

 plete the outfit. He lives on roast- 

 ed meat and mate. The hunter 

 follows the game over the open 

 pampa or along the water sheds 

 tributary to the lakes or rivers 

 and unless it takes to the water it is almost invariably captured due to the relentless 

 pursuit, since time plays no part. The rhea is a strong swimmer and has been seen 

 to voluntarily cross a river for the sake of better feeding grounds. The task is 

 evidently not greatly distasteful to him. 



The method of cooking the rhea and its eggs invented by the Indians is ingen- 

 ious and effective; the idea of simplicity has been generally adopted by the 

 peons, in Argentina at least, to the cooking of meats in general. The flesh on the 

 carcass of the rhea is tender and delicious while the leg meat is as tough as sole 

 leather, and is not eaten unless food is scarce. The Indians after removing the 

 viscera thru a small opening in the abdomen fill the cavity with hot stones about the 

 size of tennis balls and leave the bird to roast with the skin on. The eggs when 

 not eaten raw are prepared by roasting in the hot ashes, after breaking the shell at 

 one end so the contents may have room to expand and be stirred. Piles of the 

 smooth stones used in the cooking process are found about the old camping grounds 

 on the pampa and testify to the antiquity of the custom. The skins of the rhea 

 are frequently used by the Indians for bed mats, and they have devised a tobacco 

 pouch out of the neck skin which they peel from the shoulders toward the head 

 without making a longitudinal opening. By stretching and drying this and putting 

 in a few stitches in the bottom they have a very serviceable pouch. 



To-peka^ Kansas, 



