J. Delacour—Rheas



139



pennata in the south. Only the east lowland form has been imported

at rare intervals. The two highland races are said to be browner above

and to have a smaller number of scutes (eight to ten instead of sixteen

to eighteen) on the lower portion of the tarsus, R. p. tarapacensis

being rufous-brown with grey head and neck, while these parts are

isabelline buff in R. p. garleppi, whose lower neck is dusky brown and

upper surface greyish brown. Typical Darwin’s Rheas are brownish

grey, all the feathers of the upper parts showing a broad terminal white

patch. Their plumage is quite bright after the moult, but it gradually

becomes greyer and duller, the white tips more or less wearing out.

The under parts are paler browmish-grey ; no black markings on the

neck or chest. But there are important differences between this species

and the Common Rhea : although the body is of about the same bulk,

Darwin’s Rhea has decidedly shorter neck, legs, and bill ; its propor¬

tions are not nearly so elongated and angular, and consequently it

looks much better. The enclosed photographs show quite obviously

what a much prettier bird it is. Another of its peculiarities is that the

tarsus is half covered with short feathers in front. As they live in a

colder and damper climate, one might expect Darwin’s Rheas to

prove very strong and robust in Europe. This would be a great mistake.

They are of course perfectly hardy in winter, but they suffer in the

hot summer days. Furthermore, though they require the same food

as the Common species, they are much more delicate, coarse grass

will soon kill them. On the rich soft grass of Normandy and in many

parts of England they do well, especially if the field is well grazed

down by animals or cut down short. But in other districts one must

keep them on bare ground, all grass being destroyed. It is only in this

way that the late F. S. Blaauw was able to keep and breed them in

Holland. Besides our lamented Dutch member, the Duke of Bedford,

Lord Rothschild, and myself have been, as far as I know, the only

amateurs who have tried Darwin’s Rheas, with very limited success.

At Woburn they have been bred once or twice, but losses have been

heavy. At Cleres, they have lived well when once acclimitized, and young

have been hatched twice, two living for several months and dying of

accidents. Owing to unlucky circumstances, we had no chance of

breeding them during the last few years, as we had only males left.



