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THE NESTING RHEA 
though whether this is of much advantage is doubtful, 
considering its silence. In any case these facts seem to 
point to a shorter period of flightlessness in this than 
in the other members of the great ostrich-like birds, 
which culminated in the huge moas of New Zealand 
and the roc or Aepyornis of Madagascar. There are 
three different kinds of rhea, and it is interesting to notice 
that one of these, called after Darwin, Rhea darwini, has a 
rather spotted plumage suggestive on one colour theory 
of greater antiquity. It has often been pointed out 
that stripes and spots are not only found in the young of 
many creatures which are unspotted and without stripes 
in the adult condition, but that low forms of animals 
are more variegated in this way than higher types. 
Like the struthious birds generally, with the exception 
of the apteryx, whose claims to be associated with 
them are less, the rhea is by no means invariably a 
mild-tempered fowl. As is so common with the animate 
creation, the excitement of the breeding season finds a 
vent in continued hostility to any approaching man or 
beast. Mr. Hudson considers that it is positively 
dangerous to come within the range of vision of a cock 
thea who is engaged in watching the laying of eggs by 
his numerous suite. Though ferocious to strangers, 
the cock bird performs himself the severe duties of in- 
cubation, a procedure in which he resembles other 
ratites. At other times the rheas seek the society 
of other beasts, and are reported to occur among herds 
of deer with which they are on terms of amity. It has 
been pointed out that in this the rhea simulates the 
ostrich, which has a similar fondness for frequenting 
herds of zebras. 
GOLD CRESTED PENGUIN (Eudyptes chrysocome) 
This bird, like others of its tribe, is limited to the 
Antarctic region. The penguins inhabit the shores of 
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