THE NANDOU. 



391 



are tamed with the greatest ease, becoming very familiar in the 

 house, visiting the various apartments, wandering about the streets, 

 and even into the country ; but they always return to their homes 

 before sunset. 



The flesh of the adult Nandou is by no means agreeable ; that 

 of the young, on the contrary, is tender and sweet, and forms 



Fig. 15-1!. — The Nandou, or Bliea {Struthvj Mkea, LiDU.}. 



excellent food. Its skin, when properly dressed, is used for 

 bao-s, purses, &c., and their feathers serve for plumes and light 

 dusting brooms. "We owe the perfect knowledge of a second 

 species of Rhea to Mr. Darwin, who has given a figure and ample de- 

 scriptions of the bird and its habits in " The Voyage of the Beaple;" 

 it has been named in consequence Rhea Darwinii. There is every 



