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THE AMERICAN NATURALIST [Vol. XLI 



way of characters) of their reptiHan relationships, are distinctly 

 more closely allied upon that account. ]Many taxonomers, how- 

 ever, have thought so; and have endeavored to show that all 

 existing true ostrich forms, the Kiwis, an(l tinanous are a sort of 

 modern affined struthious types. On the other hand a Kiwi 

 (Apters^x) is no nearer an ostrich, and an ostrich to a tinamou, 

 than a limpkin (Aramus) is to a bustard, and a bustard (Otis) 

 to a quail (Colinus). Therefore it need not surprise us, in view 

 of all that has been set forth above, that the various modes of mat- 

 ing of any of these birds should be entirely different, or that these 

 modes should fail to throw any light upon their affinities. For 

 a moment then let us see what some authors have to say in regard 

 to the mating of ostriches and their allies. 



Professor Newton, quoting Lichtenstein, says: "Though some- 

 times assembling with Zebras or with some of the larger antelopes, 

 ostrichs commonly, and especially in the breeding season, live in 

 companies of not more than four or five, one of which is a cock 

 and the rest are hens. All the latter lay their eggs m one and the 

 same nest, a shallow pit scraped out l)y their feet, with the earth 



more it would seem to uiianl their coiimion treasure from jackals 

 and small l)easts-of-prev than diiveflv lo lorward the process of 

 hatching, for that is otteii lett wliollv lo the suti." ^ From this 

 it is clear that the African Ostrich is a polygamous l)ird by nature. 



The Rhea or South American ostrich (Rhea darwrni, amcricana, 

 etc.) IS also undoubtedly polygamous in nature, while the emeus 

 of Australia are said to l)e monogamous, though neither Newton 

 or rvciaft -av aiivtliing on this j)()int. Neither do they give us 

 aii\ iiitoniiatioii on this [)omt in regard to the cassowaries, birds 



