Birds of 
Other Lands 
BY W. P. PYCRAFT, A.L.S., F.Z.S. 
THE OSTRICH AND ITS 
KINDRED 
T he Ostriches are a very an- 
cient group of birds, and, judg- 
ing from what we know of their 
anatomy, they must be regarded as 
representing the most primitive of liv- 
ing birds. With the exception of a phoubjt iv. p. Dando,F.z.s. 
single group, to be discussed presently, RUFOUS TINAMOU, BRAZIL 
all have lost the power of flight. In tail-feathers of these birds are so small as to appear to be luanting 
some, in consequence, the wing has be- 
come reduced to a mere vestige. It is a rule in Nature, we may remark, that whenever an 
organ, such as a wing or a leg or a tail, ceases to be useful, it undergoes forthwith a slow process 
of reduction or degeneration, growing smaller and 
smaller in each successive generation, till at last it 
may even disappear altogether. The loss of flight 
has been accompanied by a degeneration in the 
quality of the feathers — that is to say, their service- 
ability as aids to flight has been entirely lost. 
The size of the members of this group varies 
much. The largest of all is the African Ostrich ; 
the smallest, of the flightless forms, the New Zealand 
Apteryx. The ostrich-like birds which have retained 
the power of flight are known as Tinamous, and are 
natives of South America. All these are smaller 
than the flightless Apteryx. 
Tinamous 
Photo by H. Noble^ Es<^. 
RHEA AND YOUNG 
j^lthough the Toings of the rhea are large^ they fit 
closely to the body as to be in'visible 'when closed 
The Tinamous should perhaps be regarded as 
standing at the head of the Ostrich Tribe, since they 
have reached a higher degree of development than 
any other of its members. They have also preserved 
the power of flight. In their general appearance 
they bear a singular resemblance to partridges, 
though a little careful observation will reveal many 
points wherein they differ therefrom. They are very 
confiding and unsuspicious birds — some persons call 
I 
