140 TROPICAL SAVANAS 



In Australia and the neighbouring regions two other 

 types of running birds occur, these being the emus and 

 cassowaries, which resemble the rheas in having three 

 toes, but of these the cassowaries are forest birds, 

 rarely venturing out into the open. The emu, on the 

 other hand, is a savana bird, haunting the plains and 

 open country, where it eats a large amount of grass. 

 The remaining Hving member of the group, the kiwi of 

 New Zealand, like the cassowary, is an inhabitant of 

 wooded districts. 



Another interesting group of birds which inhabit the 

 grassy plains of South America, though extending also 

 into forest regions, are the tinamus, which show certain 

 resemblances to ostriches, but possess the power of 

 flight. They strongly resemble game birds in outward 

 appearance, being popularly called partridges, but they 

 do not fly nearly so well as the game birds, and rise 

 with reluctance, preferring to skulk among the long 

 grass. The flight is swift, but cannot be kept up for 

 long at a time. 



Among other birds characteristic of savana regions 

 mention may be made of the bustards, of which many 

 species occur in Africa, just as the common form occurs 

 in the steppe regions of Asia. The curious secretary 

 bird {Serpentarius secretarius) also, with its long legs, is 

 very characteristic of the African savanas. Though 

 it is capable of flying well and strongly, it prefers to 

 run along the ground, like the ostrich. Its structure 

 shows that it is alhed to the birds of prey, and the fact 

 that the young are very helpless, and are for long 

 vmable to run upon their elongated legs, suggests that 

 the ground-haunting habit is a recent acquisition. The 

 nest is a huge structure and is often placed in a mimosa 

 bush. 



