86 BIRDS OF LA PLATA 



were flying, while several others were stationed near, 

 apparently waiting for something to happen. The 

 attraction was a large male Rhea squatting on the 

 ground, and sheltering with its extended wings a 

 brood of young birds. My friend was not able to 

 count them, but there were not fewer than twenty- 

 five or thirty young birds, small tender things, only 

 a day or so out of the shell. As soon as he rode into 

 the open space of ground, the old Ostrich sprang 

 up, and with lowered head, clattering beak, and 

 broad wings spread out like sails, rushed at him; 

 his horse was greatly terrified, and tried to plunge 

 into the dense mass of thistles, so that he had the 

 greatest difficulty in keeping his seat. Presently the 

 Ostrich left him, and casting his eyes round he was 

 astonished to see that all the young Ostriches were 

 running about, scattered over the ground, while the 

 Caranchos were pursuing, knocking down, and killiiig 

 them. Meanwhile the old Ostrich was frantically 

 rushing about trying to save them; but the Ca- 

 ranchos, when driven from one bird they were 

 attacking, would merely rise and drop on the next 

 one a dozen yards off; and as there were about 

 fifteen Caranchos all engaged in the same way, 

 the slaughter was proceeding at a great rate. My 

 friend, who had been vainly strtiggling to get the 

 better of his horse, was then forced to leave the 

 place, and did not therefore see the end of the tragedy 

 in which he had acted an involuntary part ; but 

 before going he saw that at least half the young birds 

 were dead, and that these were all torn and bleed- 



