Notes on the Habits of the Rhea. 203 
its life. On another occasion when I was travelling with a party of Indians 
over an open plain a deer was sighted, and one of the men took a long shot 
at it with his arrow, and missed. A moment or two afterwards I heard a 
little commotion behind, and upon looking round found the party had 
increased by one and he was carrying this branch disguise in his hand. 
Though there were six of us we had all passed within a few yards of him and 
not noticed more than a bush in the plain. He, poor fellow, had been 
stalking the deer, and we had spoiled his supper, but he had the laugh at us 
for having all blindly passed him by. 
Another method of hunting the bird, but one not often used, is for the 
Indian, upon sighting a bird, to throw his large blanket over his head and 
outstretched arms, and in the most approved ghost method to wave his 
blanket vigorously up and down. The bird upon seeing him shows every 
indication of anger and comes boldly to attack him, only to fall before a 
well-aimed arrow or gun shot. 
The meat of the Rhea is much liked by the Indian, and indeed is very 
palatable, but a foreigner must be careful, for between the sheathing of the 
muscles long wire-like worms (Nematodes) are often found. The Indians 
sell the feathers, and they are made into fine feather dusters for valuable 
china and pictures. The bird’s skin is taken off whole, and this is the 
perquisite of the woman, who, after inflating it, dries it in the sun, softens it, 
and uses it in the same way that her more civilised sister uses a chest of 
drawers. 
(Issued separately, 16th May 1915.) 
VOL, XIX. O 
