R H E A. 
furnifhed with three toes placed forwards, and the rudiment of a 
fourth behind: tail compofed of fhort feathers of equal lengths, 
fpringing from the rump: the wings ftretch from tip to tip no lefs 
than eight feet; but, on account of the want of unity of the webs of 
the feathers, are ufelefs in flight, hanging over and hiding the tail: the 
general colour of the plumage on the back and wings is dull grey, 
otherwife white; but fome individuals are wholly white, and others 
black, which may be efteemed as varieties. 
This bird is found in various parts of South America, but no where 
more plentifully than in the neighbourhood of lake Nabuelguapi, in 
the valley of the “des. Itis faid to live on fruits; is a voracious 
fpecies, and like the Ofrich, {wallows indifcriminately any thing of- 
fered to it; but its chofen food appears to be flies, which it catches 
with peculiar addrefs; it defends itfelf with the feet; whiftles like a 
man, when it calls its young: lays from forty to fixty eges on the 
bare fand, of fuch a fize as to contain about two pounds of liquid 
each. The feathers are made much ufe of by the Indians for every 
purpofe, where either ornament or fhade is required. We believe 
that no other fpecimen has yet been in England, befides that in the 
Leverian Mufeum, which appears to be about an half-grown bird, and 
from which the figure we give of it has been taken. 
Pracs, 
293 
