2 BIRDS. 



at the base with a membrane or cere, which also envelops the nasal grooves, and 

 the fifth secondary is present. Incubation is performed by the male. Young 

 when hatched are able to run. 



This subclass (not represented in India) includes the giants of the bird king- 

 dom, and approaches nearest to Mammalia. The e^^isting members of the group 

 are few in number, and are readily divided by well-marked structural differences 

 into five families, viz. — 



STBUTHioNiDiB (true Ostriches). 



Ehbid* (S. American Ostriches). 



DROMiEiD^ (Emeus). 



CASUARiiDiE (Cassowaries). 



Apterygid* (Kiwis). 

 It has been remarked by some that Cassowaries and Emeus resemble Bustards 

 in their anatomy, while Rheas and Ostriches are more like game birds. Owen 

 says Cassowaries are modified Coots, and Parker considers there is a connection 

 between Ostriches and Eails. 



There are also other forms only known by their fossil remains. Though com- 

 paratively but few genera and species of this order now exist, they difier from 

 one another considerably, and have a wide distribution, from Africa and Arabia, 

 over many of the islands of Malayasia and Polynesia, to Australia and S. America. 

 Hence in all ^jrobability the existing Eatitae are but the waifs and strays of what 

 was once, a very large and important group. 



Order STRUTHIONES. 



Only two toes (third and fourth). Fourth shorter and much padded. Nails stunted. The 

 largest of living birds. 



Pamily STEUTHIONID^. Teue Osteiches. 



No after shaft. Of the two toes the one corresponding to the middle of the three anterior 

 ties in ordinary birds (the third of the complete set) is much the largest and supports the 

 greater. part of the Weight; it has a short pointed nail. The smaller outer toe (or fourth) often 

 wants the nail. Head, neck, and legs are bare or only covered with short down. The feathers 

 of the wings and tail (corresponding to the "remiges"and "rectrices" of ordinary birds) are 

 of considerable size, but soft and plumose. Widely distributed throughout Africa, Arabia, and 

 Syria. Egg white. 



Genus STEUTHIO. 



Body-feathers black In males, greyish in females. Three species. 



S. camelus. 72". Legs flesh colour. Bill yellow, tip brown. Naked parts reddish. Eing 

 of white feathers on lower neck. Height about 8 feet. N. Africa, Arabia, and S. Palestine. 

 Egg-shell smooth. 



S. molybdophanes. Somewhat larger than S. camelus. Legs dull red. Bill pale red, tip 

 yellow. Naked parts lead-grey. Horny shield on crown surrounded by downy hairs and no ring 

 of white feathers on lower neck. Somaliland and C. Africa. Egg-shell deeply pitted, purple. 



S. australis. Of same size as 8. molyidophanes. Naked parts lead-grey. Vertex naked, 

 but with no homy shield on crown and no white band at commencement of feathering on back, 

 S. Africa. Egg-shell with small dark pores. 



S. epoasticus. Doubtful whether name refers to S. camelus or S. australis. 



S. bidactylus. A diminutive Ostrich reported to exist in C. Africa, not higher than Otis 

 ardbs (36"), but in figure and colour much like S, camelus. 



Fossil remains of a true Ostrich have been found in the Tertiary deposits of the lower ranges 

 of the Himalaya. In India there is an ostrich farm near Delhi. In Mysore, in the menagerie 

 of the late Maharajah, an ostrich egg was hatched on April 5th, 1894, after forty-two days in 

 an incubator. 



