STRUTHIONINJi. 
to  be  but  little  more  than  that  of  walking ; and,  when  hard  pressed,  it  runs  with  great  rapidity  by  the  assistance  of  the 
wings.  The  nest  is  a slight  hollow  scratched  in  the  sand,  six  feet  in  diameter,  bordered  by  a shallow  ring.  In  this 
nest  are  laid,  generally  by  two  females,  about  twenty  eggs,  while  in  the  outer  trench  are  scattered  several  more.  These 
are  considered  by  the  Hottentots  as  intended  for  the  first  food  of  the  young.  The  male  bird  sits  on  the  eggs,  and 
attends  to  the  feeding  and  care  of  the  young,  till  they  are  able  to  provide  for  themselves. 
S.  oamelus  Linn.  PI.  enl.  457. 
Rhea  Moehr.* 
Bill  moderate,  depressed,  and  broad,  with  the  culmen  flattened,  and  curved  at  the  tip,  which  overlaps 
that  of  the  under  mandible ; the  nostrils  large,  oval,  and  placed  in  the  middle  of  the  bill  in  a large 
membranous  groove  ; the  membrane  extends  over  the  base  of  the  culmen.  Wings  short,  imperfect, 
and  furnished  with  long  soft  feathers.  Fciil  not  apparent.  Farsi  very  long,  strong,  and  covered  io 
front  with  broad  transverse  scales.  Toes  short,  the  lateral  ones  shorter  than  the  middle  one,  and 
unequal,  the  inner  the  shortest ; the  claws  moderate,  strong,  and  compressed. 
The  birds  of  this  genus  are  found  on  the  plains  of  South  America.  They  are,  says  Mr.  Darwin,  shy,  wary,  and 
solitary,  and,  although  so  fleet  in  their  pace,  they  fall  a prey  without  much  difficulty.  They  generally  prefer  running 
against  the  wind,  yet  on  the  first  start  they  expand  their  wings  to  assist  them  in  their  progress.  During  the  heat  of 
the  day  they  sometimes  enter  a bed  of  tall  rushes,  where  they  squat  concealed  till  quite  closely  approached.  Theso 
birds  will  cross  rivers,  or  pass  from  island  to  island,  by  swimming,  which  is  performed  rather  slowly,  very  little  of  their 
bodies  appearing  above  the  Avater,  and  their  necks  extended  a little  forwards.  They  feed  on  vegetable  matter,  such  as 
roots  and  grass;  but  Mr.  DarAvin  has  repeatedly  seen  tliree  or  four  come  down  at  loAv  water  to  the  extensive  mud  banks, 
which  are  then  dry,  for  the  sake  of  catching  small  fish.  The  nest  Is  a shallow  excavation,  wherein  are  placed  as  many 
as  twenty-tAVO  to  sev^enty,  or  even  eighty,  eggs ; these  are  deposited  by  several  females : many  eggs  are,  however, 
scattered  singly  over  the  plains,  and  thereby  become  useless.  The  male  bird  alone  collects  them,  and  hatches  the  eggs> 
and  for  some  time  afterwards  accompanies  the  young ; at  which  time  the  males  are  occasionally  fierce,  and  even 
dangerous. 
1.  R.  amerieana  Lath.  PI.  enl.  224. — Struthio  Rhea  imra.  I — Rhea  n.  sp.  Darwin,  Letters  (1834)  p.  16’. ; Rhea  pennata 
2.  R,  Darwini  Gould,  Voy.  of  the  Beagle,  Birds,  p.  123.  pl.47.  I D’Orb. 
Dromaius  Vieill.* 
Bill  moderate  and  broad,  with  the  culmen  at  the  base  elevated,  and  sloping  to  the  tip,  which  overlaps 
that  of  the  under  mandible  ; the  nostrils  placed  in  a large  membranous  groove,  with  the  opening 
anteriorly,  and  of  an  oblong  oval.  Wings  and  Tail  not  apparent.  Tarsi  very  long,  strong,  and  mostly 
covered  in  front  with  reticulated  scales,  except  near  the  toes,  where  there  are  a few  transverse  ones, 
posteriorly  with  a series  of  rough  scales.  Toes  moderate,  the  lateral  ones  unequal,  the  inner  one  the 
shortest ; the  claws  moderate,  strong,  and  obtuse. 
* Established  by  Mcehring  in  1752.  Tougou  of  Cuvier  (1797 — 1798)  is  synonymous. 
t Established  by  Vieillot  in  1825.  This  author  had  first  proposed  the  name  of  Dromiceius  in  1816.  Tachea  of  Dr.  Fleming 
synonymous. 
4 Ji 
