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THE LIVING ANIMALS OF “Poke WORLD 
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Photo by H. Noble, Esq. 
RHEA AND YOUNG ONES 
Although frequently bred in captivity, the young do 
not seem to be eastly reared 
them stupid on this account — and in the early morn- 
ing the species inhabiting the Argentine pampas will, 
observers tell us, come right up to the isolated houses 
of the settlers, so that the boys knock them down with 
stones. The delicate quality of the flesh has caused 
these birds to be highly esteemed as food, and their 
trustful nature renders them an easy prey, so much 
so that in some districts they have been almost exter- 
minated. Large numbers are caught by riding round 
them in a circle and securing them with a noose. 
Mr. Hudson, who lived many years in the pampas, 
assures us that the GREAT TINAMOU is one of the 
sweetest-voiced of the native birds. The song is 
composed of ‘five modulated notes, flute-like in 
character, and very expressive, and is uttered by 
many individuals answering each other as they sit far 
apart, concealed in the grass.” 
The eggs of the tinamous are to be reckoned 
among the wonders of bird life, being so highly bur- 
nished as to look like beautifully glazed porcelain. 
The colour varies according to the species, ranging 
from wine-red, blue-green, and brown to black. The 
young are almost as remarkable as the eggs, being 
clothed with a peculiar down, of great complexity 
of structure, and resembling in some respects the 
nestling down of the true ostrich. 
THE RHEA 
The RHEA is a native of South America. It is frequently referred to as the SouUTH 
AMERICAN OSTRICH, and also as the NANDU. The resemblance which it bears to the true 
ostrich is striking, but it may at once be distinguished therefrom by the fact that it has three 
toes and a feathered head and neck; furthermore, it is smaller in size, and lacks the conspicuous 
white wing- and tail-plumes. The 
tail, indeed, as may be seen from 
the photographs reproduced is 
wanting. The rhea must be re- 
garded as standing at the head 
of the flightless members of the 
Ostrich Tribe. Its wings, though 
not large enough to raise its 
heavy body from the ground, are 
yet of considerable size. 
In Buenos Ayres rheas are 
hunted with dogs. If a breeze 
is blowing, the birds raise one 
wing, which acts as a sail. This 
done, they can acquire a speed 
which makes it absolutely im- 
possible for either dog or horse 
to come up with them. The 
only chance of ultimately captur- 
ing them is by wearing them out 
Photo by Scholastic Photo, Co-] 
RHEA LYING DOWN 
The breast of the larger members of the Ostrich Tribe is provided with a large horny 
plate, on which they support the body qhen resting 
