26 THE BOOK OF BIRDS 



An acquaintance of mine, who has spent many j^ears 

 on some of these extensive estates, thus writes : " The 

 nests are simply slight hollows scraped in the ground 

 amidst or beside some big clump of grass or carda 

 (thistles). When the hen is laying, the male bird covers 

 up the eggs, as much as possible, with dead leaves or 

 thistle-stalks, directly she leaves the nest. He also takes 

 his turn daily on the eggs. 



" When once they are hatched the care of the young 

 ones rests on him alone, and very proud he seems to be of 

 his charge. Directly any danger threatens, he warns 

 them by a peculiar booming cry. Then the young ones 

 immediately scuttle off and hide themselves in the long 

 grass. 



" Meanwhile, their parent advances boldly towards the 

 foe with outstretched wings, as if meaning to fight in their 

 defence, and only takes to flight when the young ones are 

 far away. I once saw a big male Rhea caught owing to 

 its anxiety to save one of the brood, evidently but a few 

 days old, which had got entangled in some weeds when 

 trying to escape. It turned back on hearing the plaintive 

 tweet-tioeet of the young one, and never attempted to leave 

 it until both were surrounded." 



This same writer says that even with the help of a 

 keen-nosed dog it is not easy to find young Rheas, for 

 they have a habit of lying low in the grass, with their 

 long necks stretched out flat on the ground. 



But like so many timid wild creatures, their inquisi- 

 tiveness is often fatal to them. Any one who can creep up 

 near to their feeding grounds, and crouch behind a tuft of 

 grass, and then quietly hold up a coloured rag or handker- 

 chief on a stick, will speedily have them stalking across to 

 him. 



