Aug. 1833. 



HABITS OF OSTRICH. 



105 



which^ geologically speaking is so recent^ that it may be 

 considered as only just gone by. These remains have been 

 presented to the College of Surgeons^ where they are now 

 in the hands of those best qualified to appreciate whatever 

 value they may possess. 



I will now give an account of the habits of some of the 

 more interesting birds^ which are common on these wild 

 plains ; and first of the Struthio Rhea, or South American 

 ostrich. This bird is well known to abound over the plains 

 of Northern Patagonia^ and the united provinces of La 

 Plata. It has not crossed the Cordillera ; but I have seen it 

 within the first range of mountains on the Uspallata plain, 

 elevated between six and seven thousand feet. The ordi- 

 nary habits of the ostrich are familiar to every one. They 

 feed on vegetable matter ; such as roots and grass ; but at 

 Bahia Blanca^ I have repeatedly seen three or four come 

 down at low water to the extensive mud-banks which are 

 then dry^ for the sake, as the Gauchos say, of catching small 

 fish. Although the ostrich in its habits is so shy, wary, and 

 solitary, and although so fleet in its pace, it falls a prey, 

 without much difficulty, to the Indian or Gaucho armed with 

 the bolas. When several horsemen appear in a semicircle, 

 it becomes confounded, and does not know which way to 

 escape. They generally prefer running against the wind; 

 yet at the first start they expand their wings, and like a vessel 

 make aU sail. On one fine hot day I saw several ostriches enter 

 a bed of tall rushes, where they squatted concealed, till quite 

 closely approached. It is not generally known that ostriches 

 readily take to the water. Mr. King informs me that at the 

 Bay of San Bias, and at Port Valdes in Patagonia, he saw 

 these birds swimming several times from island to island. 

 They ran into the water both when driven down to a point, 

 and likewise of their own accord when not frightened : the 

 distance crossed was about 200 yards. When swimming, very 

 little of their bodies appear above water, and their necks are 

 extended a little forward : their progress is slow. On two 

 occasions, t saw some ostriches swimming across the Santa 



