ORDER GRALL^. 439 



attached by cords to a common centre, must be very cautious 

 in avoiding their kicks. The nandus extend their wings 

 behind when they run ; and for the purpose of turning, and 

 putting the hunters at fault by their windings, they sometimes 

 open one wing and present it to the wind. 



When tranquil, their walk is grave, their neck is raised, 

 and the back rounded. They cut the grass on which they 

 feed. At the epocha of reproduction, that is, in the month 

 of July, the males send forth cries not unlike the lowing of 

 cows. Their nest consists of a wide but not very deep hollow, 

 which is formed naturally in the ground, and into which 

 they sometimes bring a little straw. The eggs, of a yellow- 

 ish-white and very smooth surface, are more than five inches 

 in diameter, and of equal bigness at both ends. A single 

 nest sometimes contains from sixty-six to eighty of them, 

 which M. d'Azara believes to be the production of many 

 females of the same district ; but he adds, as an ascertained 

 fact, that a single individual, said to be the male, hatches 

 the eggs, and takes the charge of conducting and protecting 

 the young. It is also pretended, that the male separates 

 some eggs, which he breaks at the moment in which the 

 young are excluded from the others, that the insects which 

 assemble there may serve for food to the little ones in the 

 first period of their existence. The young nandus, which 

 are brought up in houses, soon become familiar. They enter 

 into the different apartments, and exhibit a great deal of 

 curiosity. They also walk in the streets ; and though they 

 often wander into the country, they will also return to the 

 places where they are accustomed to be fed. They will 

 swallow small stones, and even pieces of metal which they 

 happen to meet with. The flesh of the young is tender, and 

 tolerably well flavoured. These birds, which appear never 

 to drink, are good swimmers, and will traverse rivers and 

 lakes, even when they are not pursued. 



