218 
Cranes, Etc., In Captivity. 
\\a.Ydy hut have an invotorato hahit of laying^ in mid-winter 
witli the result that (ho egjjs are usually frosted and only an 
exceptionally late clutch eve;' gets tlio rliaiice of lieing hatched. 
It is said that the male bivd alone sits, I)ut the hen usually, 
though not iiivarialvly, assists liim in caring for the young. 
Emus cannot be kept in the company of any creature 
weaker than themselves, as they are most mischievous and 
.spiteful in disposition. At the same time, they are, except 
when defending tlieii' l)i-oo(ls, the most arrant cowards, and are 
easily put to tlight if their would-be victim unexpectedly re- 
sists their attacks. 
The Common Rhb.i {Rhea americana) is even better 
known in this country than the Emu, and when adult is per- 
fectly hardy. 
The cock bird alone sits and takes charge of the young, 
the hen lieing indifferent to her offspring, and at times even 
inclined to molest them. 
Rheas are both polygamous and polyandrous, four or 
five hens accompanying a cock for some days, laying him a 
nest of eggs, and when he begins to sit transferring their 
allegiance to some other admirer. In spite of the extreme 
laxity of her morals the female Rhea shows quite a lively in- 
terest in the display which her mate performs for her benefit, 
wherein she differs from most hen birds who appear excessively 
bored by the efforts made to arouse their interest and admira- 
tion . 
Young Rheas arc rather delicate, but provided they 
have a sufficiently wide range and favourable weather (ex- 
cessive wet and drought being alike bad for them) a fair num- 
ber should reach maturity. Late -hatched broods require to 
be kept in a warm shed during the winter months, and both 
old and young must be provided with plenty of soaked bis- 
cuit when the grass becomes scarce and innutritions. 
Rheas are difficult and unsatisfactory birds to bring 
up by hand with the aid of a foster-mother, and with every 
care large numbers suffer from rickets and have to be des- 
troyed. Chopped spinach, dandelion, and lettuce, with moist- 
ened biscuit, make the l)est food, and a very little raw meat 
is sometimes beneficial; grit of course is a necessity. There 
is little doubt that want of exercise is at the root of many of 
