SHORT-WINGED CURSORIAL BIRDS. 299 



the left side throws his bolas at the devoted victim, which an instant afterwards falls to the ground 

 a mere shapeless mass of feathers, and rolls over killed by the momentum of its own career. 



Should the first horseman miss his aim another immediately takes his place, and launches from 

 his hand the terrible weapon. This is repeated by successive riders, until the game is either brought 

 down, or succeeds in reaching some swamp, where the horses are unable to follow. 



The name of Nandu is an imitation of the cry of the male during the breeding season. After 

 pairing-time is over the tones are very different, and not easily described. In the neighbourhood of 

 the peaceful settlers who leave them undisturbed, the Nandus become so tame and trustful, that they 

 may be seen associadng with tethered horses and milch-cows ; indeed, they may be looked upon 

 as half domesticated, as they carelessly graze among the cattle, and scarcely stir out of the way either 

 of dogs or man. Nevertheless, no sooner, do they see the Gaucho, who hunts them, tiian away they 

 go, using every effort to escape, and displaying considerable cunning in avoiding the observation of 

 their enemy. The appearance of a party of Indians puts them into an indescribable state of alarm ; 

 they will fly before them for hours together, and even horses and herds of cattle seem to share their 

 dismay and accompany their flight ; but if the hunter, creeping upon his hands against die wind, 

 manages to get near a flock of Nandus and, lying flat down, waves a pocket-handkerchief, the curiosity 

 of the birds is at once excited and gradually gets the better of their fear, until the whole flock with 

 their male leader at their head, v/ith outstretched neck approaches within gunshot of their wily enemy. 

 To kill the Nandu with a gun, however, requires a good marksman, as these birds are hard to kill, 

 and will often run a long way after receiving a ball. Should a flock of them be beguiled in the way 

 we have just described and one of them fall and begin to struggle, the rest immediately come to its 

 assistance with most ridiculous gestures, as if they had St. Vitus' dance in their legs and wings, and_ 

 thus the sportsman is enabled to have a second shot. The report of the gun, moreover, does not 

 frighten them, for if it misses they will come still nearer, as if to satisfy themselves as to what may be 

 the meaning of so much noise. A wounded Nandu . follows his companions as far as he can, and 

 when exhausted, steps on one side and is left to his fate. In South America these birds are every- 

 where to be seen in a state of semi-domestication, having been caught when young, and are allowed 

 to run about without restraint ; they seem so much attached to the locality where they have been 

 reared, that towards evening they always come home of their own accord. The Nandu is very 

 generally met with in European zoological gardens, where it requires less attention than any others 

 of the Ostrich race, and provided it has enough to eat, is content with the simplest diet. Moreover, 

 it seems quite able to bear the vicissitudes of climate, and might at least become an ornament 

 to our parks, even were it useless for any other purpose. 



THE LONG-BILLED NAXDU. 



The Long-billed Nandu [Rhea macrorhynchd) is distinguished from the species above described 



by its dark brown plumage, which on the lower neck is neai'ly black, and on the upper neck of a 



whitish grey colour. 



THE DWARF NANDU. 



The Dw.^RF Nandu {Rhea Dancinii) is smaller than the preceding ; its plumage is principally 

 of a light brownish grey, each feather being enlivened by a whitish edge. This species, which is 

 named after Mr. Darwin, was first heard of by him in North Patagonia, where it is called the 

 avestmy pctisc. The eggs were well known to the Indians, who described them as being a little 

 smaller than those of the Common Rhea, but of a slightly different form, and of a blue tinge. 

 Several of these birds were met with at Santa Cruz in parlies of four or five, or in pairs. Unlike d:e 

 more northern species, they did not spread their wings when starting at full speed. 



