i6 Wonders of the Bird World 



soft ground, and in search of which they are probably aided 

 by a keen sense of touch and smell, in which the peculiar 

 position of the nostrils doubtless plays a part. Another 

 remarkable feature in the Apteryx is the large size of the 

 white eggs which it lays, in this respect resembling the 

 ^pyornithida of Madagascar. 



One characteristic of the Ratite Birds must also be 

 mentioned, and that is, that the incubation of the eggs is 

 undertaken by the male bird. As will be seen later on, 

 there are a few other species in which this is the rule, but 

 in these instances there may be some reason in the shape 

 of protective colouration, but in the Ratita there is no such 

 apparent cause, as the sexes are alike in colour. Neverthe- 

 less it is a well-known feature in all the Ratite birds, which 

 is also shared by the Struthious Partridges {Tinamiformes) 

 of South America, known as Tinamous. It is, however, 

 curious to read of the habits of the Rhea, when the cock 

 bird, as the nesting-season approaches, begins to utter its 

 booming love-notes, and drives away all the younger males 

 from the flock, or fights desperately for the harem with 

 any male of its own age and weight. Mr. W. H. Hudson 

 has described these fights, which are carried on in a novel 

 way, viz. by the two combatants twisting their long necks 

 together and then biting viciously at each other's heads, 

 while they turn round and round, and pound the earth into 

 a circular trench with their great feet. The females lay 

 their eggs in a common nest, and should they not have 

 done their laying before the cock " becomes brood}'," he 

 drives them away with great fury, and begins to incubate. 

 When the young are hatched, he takes the greatest care of 

 them, and it is then dangerous, says Mr. Hudson, to 

 approach the Rhea on horseback, as the bird, with neck 

 stretched out horizontally and outspread wings, charges 

 suddenly, making so huge and grotesque a figure that the 

 tamest horse becomes ungovernable with terror. 



