436 



AMERICAN RHE^. 

 (Rhea Americana.) 



IFIh. corpore alboy alis dorsoque obscure griseis. {Variat corpore 



toto al6o, interdum nigro.) 

 Rhea with a white body ; the wings and back obscure grey, 



(Varies in having the body entirely white or black.) 

 Rhea Americana. Lath, Ind, Orn. 2. 665. 1. 

 Rhea. Briss, Orn. 5. 8. 



Struthio Rhea. Linn, S^st. Nqt. 1. 266. S.T-GmeL Syst, Nat. 

 I, 727. 



Struthio-camelus Americanus, r»^handu-guacu.^Rfl«. Syn. 36, 2. 

 Le Touyou. Buff. Ois. l. 452. 



American Ostrich. IfilL {Ang,) p, 150. — Lath, Gen. Syn, 

 5.23*. 



American Rhea. Lath. Syn. Sup, II. 292. 1. 



This bird is a native of South America, and 

 although extremely common in many parts of 

 that continent, specimens have rarely been seen in 

 England : it is rather less than the Ostrich, being 

 about six feet in height, of which the neck is two 

 feet eight inches : the head is small, rounded, and 

 covered with feathers : eyes black : eyelids fur- 

 nished with eyelashes : the beak short and broad : 

 the general colour of the plumage on the back 

 add wings is dull grey, but in some individuals 

 wholly white, in others black : the wings stretch 

 from tip to tip no less than eight feet; but ovt 

 account of the webs being disunited, are useless in 

 flight, hanging over and hiding the tail, which is 

 composed of short feathers of equal lengths : legs 



