BOOK II. BIRDS.

BY W. P. PYCRAFT, A.L.S., F.Z.S.

CHAPTER I.

THE OSTRICH AND ITS KINDRED.

of birds, and, judging from THEgroupOstriches are a very ancient what we know of their anatomy, they must be regarded as representing the most primitive of living birds.

Photo by W. P. Dando, F.Z.S.] [Regent's Park. With the exception of a single group, RUFOUS TINAMOU, BRAZIL. to be discussed presently, all have lost

The tail-feathers of these birds are so small as to appear to be wanting. the power of flight. In some, in consequence, the wing has become 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 serviceability as aids to flight has been entirely lost.

The size of the members of this group varies is the African Ostrich;much. The largest of all 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. 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 Photo by H. Noble, Esq.'} [Henley. a little careful observation will reveal many points RHEA AND YOUNG. wherein they differ therefrom. They are very confiding Although the wings of the rhea are large, they fit so closely to the body as to be invisible when closed.and unsuspicious birds some persons call them stupid 385 49

of the World386 The Living Animals

on this account and in the early morning the species inhabiting the Argentine pampas will, observers tell us, come right up to the isolated houses of the settlers, so that the boys knock them down with stones. The delicate quality of the flesh has caused these birds to be highly esteemed as food, and their trustful nature renders them an easy prey, so much so that in some districts they have been almost exterminated. Large numbers are caught by riding round them in a circle and securing them with a noose. Mr. Hudson, who lived many years in the pampas, assures us that the GREAT TINAMOU is one of the sweetest-voiced of the native birds. The " five modulated notes, flute-song is composed of like in character, and very expressive, and is uttered by many individuals answering each other as they sit far apart, concealed in the grass."

The eggs of the tinamous are to be reckoned among the wonders of bird life, being so highly burnished as to look like beautifully glazed porcelain. The colour varies according to the species, ranging from wine-red, blue-green, and brown to black. The young are almost as remarkable as the eggs, being Photo by H. Xoble, Esq.] [Henley. clothed with a peculiar down, of great complexity RHEA AND YOUNG ONES. of structure, and resembling in some respects the Although frequently bred in this country, the yoang do not easily reared.nestling down of the true ostrich. seem to be

THE KHEA.

The KHEA is a native of South America. It is frequently referred to as the SOUTH AMERICAN OSTRICH, and also as the NANDU. The resemblance which it bears to the true ostrich is striking, but it may at once be distinguished therefrom by the fact that it has three toes and a feathered head and neck; furthermore, it is smaller in size, and lacks the conspicuous white wing- and tail-plumes. The tail, indeed, as may be seen from the photographs reproduced is wanting. The rhea must be regarded as standing at the head of the flightless members of the Ostrich Tribe. Its wings, though not large enough to raise its heavy body from the ground, are yet of considerable size. In Buenos Aires rheas are hunted with dogs. If a breeze is blowing, the birds raise one wing, which acts as a sail. This done, they can acquire a speed which makes it absolutely impossible for either dog or horse to Photo by Scholastic Photo. Co.] [Panon's Green. come up with them. The only RHEA LYING DOWN. chance of ultimately capturingThe breast of the larger members of the Ostrich Tribe is provided with a large horny plate, on which they support the body when resting. them is by wearing them out

The breast of the larger members of the Ostrich Tribe is provided with a large horny plate, on which they support the body when resting.

The Ostrich and its Kindred 38? by ceaseless pursuit. A chase of this kind may last an hour and a half. Needless to say, for sport of this kind both horses and dogs must be the best of their kind and in " good form." The natives and Indians hunt them on horseback with the "bolas." The bolas, or balls, used for this purpose consist of two round stones covered with leather, and united by a thong of about 8 feet long. One of these is held in the hand and the other whirled round the head and suddenly released, when both go whirling madly round till they strike the rhea's legs, around which they instantly twist, and the victim is a fast prisoner. to the ruthless The rhea is in danger of disappearing altogether as a wild bird, owing slaughter which is made upon it for the sake of its feathers. For some years back, Mr. Harting tells us, "the number of birds killed has averaged 400,000 per annum, and, as a consequence, the species has already disappeared from nearly half the territory of the Kiver Plate." On some estates in Argentina the wild birds are driven in and plucked.

Like most of the Ostrich Tribe, the male alone performs the duties of incubation, hatching

Photo by J. T. Newman] [Berkhamsted.

EHEAS IN THING PARK.

In spite of its large size, the rhea is not a conspicuous bird in a wild state, the grey plumage harmonising perfectly with the surrounding pampas.

some twenty eggs at a time, the produce of several different females. There are three different kinds of rhea, but they do not differ much one from another. The young are curiously is very large, of a cream colour, and deeply pitted.striped. The egg " in Darwin, in his Voyage of the Beagle," tells us that when he was " at Bahia Blanca, the months of September and October, the eggs, in extraordinary numbers, were found all over the country. They lie either scattered and single, in which case they are never hatched, and are called by the Spaniards huachos; or they are collected together into a shallow excavation which forms the nest. Out of the four nests which I saw, three contained twenty-two eggs each, and the fourth twenty-seven. In one day's hunting on horseback sixty-four eggs were found: forty-four of these were in two nests, and the remaining twenty scattered huachos. The Grauchos unanimously affirm and there is no reason to doubt their statement that the male bird alone hatches the eggs, and for some time afterwards accompanies the young. The cock, : I have myself almost ridden over one. It is asserted thatwhen on the nest, lies very close at such times they are occasionally fierce and even dangerous, and that they have been known

of the World388 The Living Animals to attack a man on horseback, trying to kick and leap on him. My informer pointed out to me an old man whom he had seen much terrified by one chasing him.... I understand that : this habit, therefore, isthe male emu in the Zoological Gardens takes charge of the nest common to the family. "The Gauchos unanimously affirm that several females lay in one nest. I have been positively told that four or five hen birds have been watched to go, in the middle of the day, one after another, to the same nest.... Although this habit at first appears very strange, I think the cause may be explained in a simple manner. The number of eggs in the nest varies from twenty to forty, and even fifty; and according to Azara even seventy or eighty. Now, although it is most probable, from the number of the eggs found in one district being so extraordinarily great in proportion to the parent birds, and likewise from the state of the ovarium of the hen, that she may, in the course of the season, lay a large number, yet the time required must be very long.... If the hen was obliged to hatch her own eggs before the last was laid, the first probably would be addled; but if each laid a few eggs at successive ... combined together, then the eggs in oneperiods in different nests, and several hens collection would be nearly of the same age. If the number of eggs in one of these nests is, as I believe, not greater on an average than the number laid by one female in the season, then there must be as many nests as females, and each cock bird will have its fair share of the labour of incubation: and that during a period when the females probably could not sit, from not having finished laying. I have before mentioned the great number of huachos, or deserted eggs; and that in one day's hunting twenty were found in this state. It appears odd that so many should be wasted. Does it not arise from the difficulty of several females

KBHHI

Photo ly the Duchetf of Bedford] [ Woburn Abbey.

WHITE KHEAS.

These are only varieties of the common form, not a distinct breed.

The Ostrich and its Kindred 389 associating together, and finding a male ready to undertake the office of incubation? It is obvious that there must at first be some degree of association between at least two females, otherwise the eggs would remain scattered over the wide plains, at distances far too great to allow of the male collecting them into one nest: some... have believed that the scattered eggs were deposited for the young birds to feed on. This

... can hardly be the case because huachos, although often found addled and putrid, are generally whole."

THE OSTRICH.

The OSTRICH is the giant amongst living birds, the full-grown male standing Reid] [ Wisliaw,some 8 feet high, and weighing Photo by W. OSTRICH STANDING BESIDE HEE EGGS. about 300 Ibs. It is flight- In a wild state Troth cock and hen take part in the preparation of the nest. less, the wings being smaller, is in proportion to the size of the body, than in the rhea. But the energy which in other birds employed in sustaining flight in the ostrich is expended in running, so that it has reached a high degree of speed no less, in fact, than twenty-six miles an hour. When at full speed, it is generally believed the ostrich derives no small help from the wings, which are used sail-wise. Nor is this belief by any means a modern one, for all of us must be familiar with Job's observations on this subject: "What time she lifteth up her wings on high, she scorneth the horse and his rider." The wings are never used in running at full speed, but are of much service in turning, " enabling the bird to double abruptly, even when going at top speed." In justice to the older observers, however, it must be remarked that ostriches do run with raised wings, but only at the commencement of the run, or in covering a short distance, if circumstances demand " full speed ahead," they arewhen the pace may be considerable; but held close to the body, where they offer the least resistance to speed.

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