Transcriber's note: Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_).
* * * * *
[Illustration: _Photo by S. G. Payne & Son, Aylesbury._ _Printed at
Lyons, France._
CASSOWARY. The female Cassowary is larger than her mate, and her colouring
is of equal brilliancy.]
THE . .
LIVING ANIMALS
OF THE WORLD
A POPULAR NATURAL HISTORY
AN INTERESTING DESCRIPTION OF BEASTS, BIRDS, FISHES
REPTILES, INSECTS, ETC., WITH AUTHENTIC ANECDOTES
VOL. II.
BIRDS, REPTILES AND
AMPHIBIANS, FISHES
JOINTED ANIMALS
MOLLUSCS, ETC.
BY
W. F. KIRBY, F.L.S.
SIR HERBERT MAXWELL, F.R.S.
W. P. PYCRAFT, A.L.S., F.Z.S.
F. G. AFLALO, F.Z.S.
W. SAVILLE-KENT, F.L.S., F.Z.S.
JOHN BICKERDYKE, M.A.
THEODORE WOOD, F.E.S.
WITH
643 ILLUSTRATIONS
(INCLUDING 12 COLOURED PLATES)
FROM PHOTOGRAPHS
[Illustration: _Photo by W. P. Dando, F.Z.S., Regent's Park_]
LONDON: HUTCHINSON & CO., PATERNOSTER ROW
PRINTED BY
HAZELL, WATSON AND VINEY, LD.,
LONDON AND AYLESBURY.
VOL. II.
CONTENTS.
_BOOK II. BIRDS._
CHAP. PAGE
I. THE OSTRICH AND ITS KINDRED 385
II. THE GAME-BIRDS AND RAILS 397
III. PIGEONS AND SAND-GROUSE 414
IV. AUKS, GULLS, AND PLOVERS 417
V. BUSTARDS AND CRANES 424
VI. GREBES AND DIVERS, PENGUINS, AND TUBE-NOSED
BIRDS 428
VII. STORKS, HERONS, AND PELICAN TRIBE 435
VIII. SCREAMERS, DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS 456
IX. BIRDS OF PREY AND OWLS 464
X. NIGHT-JARS, SWIFTS, AND HUMMING-BIRDS 481
XI. PARROTS, CUCKOOS, AND PLANTAIN-EATERS 487
XII. ROLLERS, KINGFISHERS, HORNBILLS, AND
HOOPOES 498
XIII. BEE-EATERS, MOTMOTS, TODIES, COLIES, AND
TROGONS 506
XIV. TOUCANS, HONEY-GUIDES, JACAMARS AND
PUFF-BIRDS, BARBETS AND WOODPECKERS 508
XV. PERCHING-BIRDS 514
XVI. LARKS, TITMICE, HONEY-EATERS, AND THEIR
KINDRED 526
XVII. SHRIKES, THRUSHES AND THEIR ALLIES,
SWALLOWS, LYRE-BIRDS, CHATTERERS, BROAD-BILLS,
ETC. 533
_BOOK III. REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS._
I. CROCODILES AND ALLIGATORS 545
II. TORTOISES AND TURTLES 551
III. LIZARDS 563
IV. CHAMÆLEONS AND TUATERA 581
V. SNAKES 585
VI. FROGS AND TOADS 598
VII. NEWTS AND SALAMANDERS 605
_BOOK IV. FISHES._
I. LUNG-FISHES AND CHIMÆRAS 609
II. THE PERCH FAMILY 612
III. SCALY-FINS, RED MULLETS, SEA-BREAMS,
SCORPION-FISHES, SLIME-HEADS, TASSEL-FISH,
MEAGRES, AND SWORD-FISHES 613
IV. HAIR-TAILS, HORSE-MACKERELS, SEA-BATS,
DORIES, MACKERELS, SUCKING-FISHES,
WEAVERS, FROG-FISHES, ANGLER-FISHES,
BULL-HEADS, AND GURNARDS 620
V. LUMP-SUCKERS, GOBIES, BLENNIES, BARRACUDAS,
GREY MULLETS, STICKLEBACKS AND
THEIR ALLIES, GARPIKE, AND FLYING-FISHES 628
VI. THE WRASSE-LIKE FISHES 633
VII. PIPE-FISHES, SEA-HORSES, GLOBE-FISHES, SUN-FISHES,
AND THEIR ALLIES 636
VIII. THE COD FAMILY 641
IX. CAVE-FISHES, SAND-EELS AND THEIR ALLIES,
AND FLAT-FISHES 643
X. EELS AND CAT-FISHES 646
XI. THE CARP FAMILY 650
XII. PIKES, ARAPAIMAS, BEAKED SALMON, AND
SCOPELIDS 652
XIII. THE SALMON FAMILY 655
XIV. THE HERRING AND ITS KINDRED 658
XV. BONY PIKE, BOW-FIN, STURGEON, REED-FISH,
AND BICHIR 662
XVI. SHARKS AND RAYS 664
_BOOK V. JOINTED ANIMALS._
I. THE CRAB AND SCORPION GROUPS 670
II. INSECTS 681
_BOOK VI. SHELL-FISH, LAMP-SHELLS, SEA-URCHINS,
STAR-FISHES, MOSS-ANIMALS, WORMS, CORALS,
JELLY-FISHES, AND SPONGES._
I. SHELL-FISH, OR MOLLUSCS 737
II. LAMP-SHELLS 744
III. STAR-FISHES, SEA-URCHINS, ETC. 746
IV. MOSS-ANIMALS 753
V. WORMS 754
VI. CORALS, SEA-ANEMONES, AND JELLY-FISHES 758
VII. SPONGES AND ANIMALCULES 764
COLOURED PLATES.
_Facing page_
Cassowary 385
Crowned Crane 417
Australian Cockatoo--Macaw--Male
Ruff in full breeding-plumage--
Laughing-jackass 449
Hoopoe flying 481
Waxbills--Indigo Finches 513
Green and Ocellated Lizards 545
The West African Python 577
Western Australian Scarlet Rock-cod--
Freemantle Devil-fish, or Armed
Gurnard 609
A Salmon leaping 641
Goliath Beetle--Brazilian Bee--Grasshopper--
Candle-fly--Australian Robber-fly--
Japanese Analophus 673
Croesus Butterfly of Batchian 705
Portion of Inshore Coral Reef at
Thursday Island, Torres Straits 737
ILLUSTRATIONS IN THE TEXT.
PAGE
Rufous Tinamou, Brazil 385
Rhea and young 385
Rhea and young ones 386
Rhea lying down 386
Rheas in Tring Park 387
White Rheas 388
Ostrich standing beside her eggs 389
Ostriches ten days old 390
An Ostrich Family 391
A group of Cock Ostriches 392
Sclater's Cassowary 393
Nest and eggs of Emeu 394
Young Emeus five days old 394
Young Emeus 395
Emeu 395
Mantell's Kiwi 396
Owen's Kiwi 396
Red Grouse 397
Ptarmigan 398
Capercallie 398
Common Partridge 398
Texan Bob-white 399
Golden Pheasant 400, 401
Silver Pheasant 401
English Pheasants 401
Reeves's Pheasant 401
Amherst's Pheasant 401
Peacock-pheasant 401
Temminck's Tragopan 402
Chinese Tragopan 402
Himalayan Monal 403
Red Cochins 404
Brown Leghorn Cock 404
Silver-spangled Hamburgs 405
Dark Bramas 405
Silver Wyandotte Hen with Pheasant Chicks 406
Peacock 407
Back view of Peacock 407
Black-chested Crested Guinea-fowl 408
Nest of Brush-turkey at Woburn Abbey 409
Turkey Cock and Hen 409
Wallace's Painted Megapode 410
Razor-billed Curassow 411
Crested Curassow 411
Hoatzin 412
Weka-rail 413
Water-rail 413
A pair of young Pigeons in nest 414
Southern Fruit-pigeon 415
Nicobar Imperial Fruit-pigeons 415
New Guinea Crowned Pigeon 415
Wonga-wonga Pigeon 415
Male Black-bellied Sand-grouse 416
White Tern 417
Terns on a shingle bank 418
Herring-gull 419
Young Herring-gulls in the grey phase of
plumage 419
Stone-curlew, or Thick-knee 420
Curlew 420
Woodcock 421
Oyster-catcher on its nest 421
Denham's Bustard 422
Great Bustards 422
Indian Bustards 423
Stanley Crane 424
Common Crane 425, 426
Manchurian Crane 426
Wattled Crane 426
Seriema 427
White-backed Trumpeters 427
Great Crested Grebe 428
Black-throated Divers 428
Rock-hopper Penguin 429
Black-footed Penguin 430
Black-footed Penguins bathing 431
King-penguin 432
Nesting Albatrosses 433
White-capped Albatross 434
Carting Albatross eggs 434
Fulmar Petrel 435
Whale-headed Stork 436
White Storks 437
Adjutant-stork 438
Jabiru Stork 438
Flamingoes 439, 440
European Flamingoes 440
Spoonbill 441
Sacred Ibis 441
Young Herons fourteen days old in nest 442
Great Blue Heron 443
Common Night-heron 444
Young Common Herons 444
Green Heron 445
Buff-backed Heron 446
Indian Cattle-egret 447
Common Bittern 448
Egyptian Pelican 449
Crested Pelican 450
Young Australian Pelican 451
Young Pelicans 451
Cormorant 452
Frigate-birds at home 453
Young Gannets, first year 454
Gannet, second year 454
Gannet, full plumage 454
Gannets on the Bass Rock 455
Crested Screamer, or Chaka 456
Aylesbury Duck 457
Pochard 457
Eider-duck 458
Sheldrake 458
Paradise-ducks 459
Cape Barren Goose 460
Australian Pygmy Goose 461
Black-necked Swan 461
Trumpeter- and Whooper-swans 462
Australian Black Swans and Cygnets 463
Condor 464
King-vulture 465
Black Vultures 465
Californian Vulture 466
Secretary-bird 467
Egyptian Kite 468
Australian Osprey 469
Bearded Vulture 470
Griffon-vulture 471
Rüppell's Vulture 471
Angolan Vulture 472
Pondicherry Vulture 472
Egyptian Vulture 473
Wedge-tailed Eagle 473
American Sparrow-hawk 474
Vociferous Sea-eagle 475
Imperial Eagle 475
Crested Eagle 475
Chilian Sea-eagle 475
Rough-legged Buzzard 476
Martial Hawk-eagle 476
Peregrine Falcon 477
Spectacled Owl 477
Eagle-owl 478
Virginian Eagle-owl 478
American Long-eared Owl 479
Tawny Owl 479
Screech-owl 480
Barn-owl 480
Common Night-jar 481
Pennant-winged Night-jar 481
More-porks 482, 483
Swift 484
Edible Swift 485
Ruby-throated Humming-birds 486
Kea 487
New Zealand Kea 488
New Zealand Kaka 489
Black Cockatoo 490
Cockatoo 490
Leadbeater's Cockatoo 491
Macaw 492
Blue Mountain-parrots 493
Young Cuckoo ejecting egg 494
Pheasant-cuckoo 495
Cuckoo one day old in Hedge-sparrow's
nest 496
Young Cuckoo 497
Young Cuckoo in Reed-warbler's nest 498
Australian Laughing-kingfisher 499
Kingfishers at home 500
Laughing-kingfishers 501
Kingfisher 502
Laughing-jackass 503
Crested Hornbill 504
Concave-casqued Hornbill, India 505
Ground-hornbill 505
Hoopoe 506
Bee-eater 507
Racket-tailed Motmot 508
Trogon 509
Curl-crested Toucan 510
Honey-guide 511
A family of Greater Spotted Woodpeckers 511
Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers 512
American Crow 513
Jackdaws 514
Young American Blue Jay 515
A pair of Magpies 516
Cornish Chough 517
King Bird of Paradise 517
Queensland Rifle-bird 518
Red Bird of Paradise 518
Young Starlings 519
Common Starling 520
Meadow-lark (natural size) 521
Hawfinch 522
Young Chaffinches 523
House-sparrows 523
Bullfinch 524
Greenfinch 525
Linnet 526
Skylarks 527
Young Skylarks 528
Nuthatch 529
Marsh-tit 530
Great Tit 531
Coal-tits 532
Red-backed Shrikes 533
Australian Magpie 533
Reed-warbler 534
Song-thrush 535
Young Thrush 536
Blackbird 536
Robin 537
Nightingale 537
Stone-chat 538
A pair of Wrens 539
Common Wrens 539
Young Swallows 540
Sand-martins 541
Victorian Lyre-bird 542
Tail of Australian Lyre-bird 542
Bell-bird 543
Cock-of-the-walk 544
Young Nile Crocodile 545
Young Broad-snouted Crocodile 546
A dead Crocodile 546
A Crocodile 547
A Queensland Crocodile 548
Crocodile, well illustrating the
character of the dentition 549
Crocodiles and Alligators, with young 550
A Crocodile from Southern United States 550
Mississippi and Chinese Alligators 551
Asiatic Tortoises 552
European Tortoise 552
Elephant-tortoises from the Galapagos
Islands 553
Elephant-tortoise 554
Giant or Elephant-tortoises from the
Galapagos Islands 555
Giant Tortoise 556
A Giant Tortoise with a European Tortoise
on its back 557
Elephant-tortoise 558
Snapping-turtle 559
Temminck's Snapper 560
Newly hatched Turtles enjoying their
first swim 561
Cuban Terrapins 562
Blind-worm 563
Glass-snake, or Scheltopusik 563
Burmese Geckos 564
Madeiran Geckos 565
Flying-dragon of Java 566
Frilled Lizard at bay with expanded frill 567
Frilled Lizard with frill folded up 567
Frilled Lizard running on its hind legs
(2 views) 567
Australian Tree-lizard 568
Australian Water-lizard 569
Australian Jew or Bearded Lizards 570
Bearded Lizard 570
A young Bearded Lizard 570
Australian York or Mountain-devil 571
Spinous Lizard, or Mountain-devil 571
A group of Mountain-devils of Central
Australia 572
Horned Toad 572, 573
Tuberculated Iguana 574
Small Viviparous Lizard 574
Wall-lizard 574
Banded Iguanas 575
South African Girdled Lizard 575
Arizona Heloderm (Poisonous Lizard) 576
White Monitor 576
Green Lizard 577
Ocellated Lizards at home 577
Röntgen ray photograph of Ocellated
Lizard 578
Common Skink 579
Australian Stump-tailed Lizards 579
Blue-tongued Lizards 580
Spine-tailed Lizards, Western Australia 580
Chamæleons asleep 581
A Chamæleon in a rage 581
Common Chamæleon of South Europe and
North Africa 582
A Chamæleon shooting out its tongue to
capture a fly 583
A photograph of a Chamæleon in the act of
catching a butterfly 583
Tuatera of New Zealand 584
A tame Tuatera 584
Dark Green Snake 585, 586
A small Boa-constrictor seizing and
devouring a rat 587
Boa-constrictor ready to strike 588
Carpet-snake 589
Æsculapian Snake 589
A group of Garter-snakes 590
Leopard-snake 591
Tesselated Snake 591
Pine-snake 592
Cobra (back view) 593
Queensland Sea-snake 593
English Viper 594
African Puff-adder 595
Diamond-back Rattle-snake 595
Rattle-snake 596
Fer-de-lance Snake 597
Bull-frog 598
American Bull-frog 598
Edible Frog 599
Tiger-like Frog 599
Röntgen ray photograph of Common Frog 600
Ornamented Horned Toad 601
European Green Tree-frog 602
Queensland Tree-frogs 603
Common Toad 603, 604
Common or Smooth Newt 605
Smooth Newt 606
Spotted Salamanders 607
Yellow phase of Spotted Salamanders 608
Australian Lung-fish 609
Bottle-nosed Chimæra 610
White Perch 611
Sea-bass 611
Large-mouthed Black Bass 612
Butter-fish 612
American "Sun-fish" 613
The miscalled Archer-fish 614
Striped Red Mullet 614
Brown Snapper 615
Red Sea-bream 615
Snapper 616
King-snapper 616
Australian Groper 617
Indian Weaver-fish 618
Ragged Sea-scorpion 618
Stone-fish 619
Tassel-fish 619
Sword-fish 620
Snoek 620
Fringed Horse mackerel 621
Horse-mackerel 621
John Dories 622, 624
Long-finned Dory 623
Sucking-fish 625
Larger Weaver 625
Angler-fish 626
Butterfly-gurnard 627
Reel-gurnard 627
Bar-tailed Flat-head 628
Rock Flat-head 628
Lump-sucker 629
Blenny 630
Northern Mullet 631
Red Mullet 631
Garpikes 632
Pipe-fish 632
Flying-fish 633
Spotted Wrasse 634
Satin Parrot-fish 634
Black-spotted Parrot-fish 635
A Wrasse 635
Globe-fish 636
Black-spotted Globe-fish 637
Trigger-fish 637
Coffer-fishes 638
Lace-finned Leather-jacket 639
Spotted Box- or Trunk-fish 639
Sea-horses 640
Whiting 641
Pollack-whiting 642
Spotted Sole 643
Halibut 644
Brill 645
Eels 646
Conger-eel 647
Cat-fish 648
Painted Eels from Bermuda 649
Cat-fishes 649
Carp 650
Gold-fish 651
Pike 652
Pikerel 653
"Sergeant Baker" 653
Beaked Salmon 654
Queensland Smelt 655
Salmon-trout 656
American Salmon-trout from Diamond Lake,
New Zealand 657
Smelt 658
Ox-eyed Herring 659
Queensland Lung-fish 660
Australian Pilchards 661
Bony Pike 662
Sturgeon 663
Sterlet 663
Bicher 663, 664
Wollibong, or Carpet-shark 665
Spotted Shark 665
Basking-shark 666
Ocellated Dog-fish 667
Indian Sting-ray 667
Horned Ox-ray, or Devil-fish 668
Whip-tailed Sting-ray 668
Shovel-nosed Skate 669
Painted Skate 669
Barnacles 670
A pair of Barnacles 670
Acorn-barnacle 671
Wood-louse 671
Shrimp 672
Fresh-water Crab 672
Spider-crab 673
Blue Crab 673
Fighting Crabs 674
Egyptian Scorpion 675
Tree Trap-door Spider of Brazil 676
House-spider 676
Garden-spider in web 677
Spanish Tarantula 678
Giant Centipede 679
Giant Millipede 680
Tiger-beetle 681
Ground-beetle 682
Great Brown Water-beetle (male) 682
Black Water-beetle 682
Two Burying-beetles 683
Male Stag-beetle 684
Skipjack Beetle 684
Hercules Beetle flying 684
Cockchafer on daisy 685
Harlequin Beetle 686
Jumping-beetle, allied to the Turnip-flea 686
Reed-beetle 687
Musk-beetle 688
Earwig 689
American Cockroach 689
Stick-insect 690
Walking Leaf-insects 690
House-cricket 691
Mole-cricket 691
Long-horned Grasshopper 692
Cape Grasshopper (female) 692
Egyptian Locust 693
Wart-eating Grasshopper (two views) 694
Dragon-fly 695
Queen Termite 696
Termites 696
Termite's nests in Queensland 697
Termites at work 698
Termites' nest 699
Scorpion-fly 699
Adult form of Ant-lion 700
Large Caddis-fly 701
Saw-fly 702
Marble Gall-fly and gall 702
Tree-wasp 703
Tree wasp's nest 703
Pine-boring Wasp (female) 704
Pine-boring Wasp (male) 704
Ichneumon-fly 705
Ruby-tailed Fly 705
Wood-ant 705
Solitary Ant (male and female) 706
Hornet 706
Hive-bee (queen, worker, and drone) 707
Bumble-bee on everlasting-pea 707
Bees 708
Leaf-butterfly 709
South American Long-winged Butterflies 710
Diana Fritillary 710
Queen of Spain Fritillary 710
Tawny Admiral 711
Caterpillar of Tawny Admiral 711
Blue Butterfly 712
Blue Morpho Butterfly and Humming-bird 712
Large Blue Butterfly 713
Mazarine Blue Butterfly 713
Long-tailed Blue Butterfly 713
Bloxworth Blue Butterfly 713
Large Copper Butterfly 714
Dusky Copper Butterfly 714
New Guinea Golden Butterfly 715
Australian Butterflies 715
Bath White Butterfly 716
Green-veined White Butterfly 716
Black-veined White Butterfly 716
Orange-tip 717
Large Grizzled Skipper Butterfly 717
Swallow-tailed Butterfly 717
Elephant Hawk-moths 718
Luna Moths 718
Polyphemus Moth 719
Cecropia Moth 719
Imperial Moth 719
Cocoons of Cypress-moth 720
Cypress-moths at rest 720
Cypress-moths 721
Cypress-caterpillars 721
Death's-head Moth 722
Day-flying Moth of Madagascar 722
Convolvulus Hawk-moth 722
Great Peacock-moth 723
Polyphemus Moth 723
White Plume-moth 724
Indian Swallow-tailed Moth 724
Shield-bug 725
Juniper-bug 725
Lace-wing Bug 725
Masked Bug 726
Great Water-bug 727
Indian Candle-fly 728
Aphis 729
Scale-insects 729
Cicada and Pupæ 730
Brown Mosquito 730
Hornet Robber-fly 731
Daddy-long-legs 731
Hover-fly 732
Rat-tailed Larva 732
House-fly (male and female) 733
Blue-bottle Fly, or Blow-fly 733, 734
Tsetse-fly 735
Bee-fly 736
An Octopus crouching in a rock-pool 737
An Octopus on its back at bay, left high
and dry by the retreating tide 737
Octopods 738
A Tasmanian Squid, or Cuttle-fish 738
Shell of the Pearly Nautilus 739
Shell of the Argonaut, or Paper-nautilus 740
Limpets, Whelks, and Barnacles 741
Shell Beach, Abrolhos Islands 741
Great Clam-shell on coral-reef 741
Giant Clam-shells on the Great Barrier
Reef, as exposed at extreme low tide 741
Highly magnified tongue of a Sea-snail 742
A Scorpion-shell 743
Rock-oysters 743
A Queensland Oyster-bank 744
Southern Cross Pearl, valued at £10,000 745
Pearl-shell with group of Golden Pearls 745
Queensland Pearls on Black-lipped
Pearl-shell 745
Pearl produced by operation on the animal 745
Common or Short-spined Sea-urchin 746
Long-spined Sea-urchins 747
Thick-spined Sea-urchin 748
Star-fish in water 749
Star-fish, out of water, turning over 749
A young Brittle Star-fish (much
magnified) 750
A branching-armed Brittle-star 751
Sea-cucumbers, some with extended
tentacles 751
Sea-cucumber, or Bêche-de-mer 752
Prickly Sea-cucumber 752
Black Sea-cucumber 753
Moss-animals 754
Tube-worms 755
Sea-worms, or Nereids 756
Sea-mice 756
Portion of the Great Barrier Reef of
Australia 757
A Mushroom-coral fully expanded 758
Mushroom-corals, with the anemone-like
polyp expanded 758
Part of the Great Barrier Reef of
Australia 759
Portion of a Stag's-horn Coral 760
A clump of Stag's-horn Coral 760
Bleached Corals from the Great Barrier
Reef 761
A Queensland Star-coral 762
A giant Anemone from the Great Barrier
Reef 763
A giant Sea-anemone 763
Frilled Sponge 764
Reticulated Sponge 764
Portuguese Bird's-nest Sponge 765
Chalina Sponge 765
Cup-sponges 766
Shells of Forams highly magnified 767
Noctilucas 767
Polycysts 768
THE LIVING ANIMALS OF THE WORLD.
----
_BOOK II. BIRDS._
BY W. P. PYCRAFT, A.L.S., F.Z.S.
----
CHAPTER I.
_THE OSTRICH AND ITS KINDRED._
The Ostriches are a very ancient group of birds, and, judging from what we
know of their anatomy, they must be regarded as representing the most
primitive of living birds. With the exception of a single group, to be
discussed presently, all have lost 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.
[Illustration: _Photo by W. P. Dando, F.Z.S._] [_Regent's Park._
RUFOUS TINAMOU, BRAZIL.
The tail-feathers of these birds are so small as to appear to be wanting.]
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.
[Illustration: _Photo by H. Noble, Esq._] [_Henley._
RHEA AND YOUNG.
Although the wings of the rhea are large, they fit so closely to the body
as to be invisible when closed.]
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 a little careful observation will reveal many points wherein they
differ therefrom. They are very confiding and unsuspicious birds--some
persons call them stupid 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 song is composed of "five modulated notes, flute-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
clothed with a peculiar down, of great complexity of structure, and
resembling in some respects the nestling down of the true ostrich.
THE RHEA.
[Illustration: _Photo by H. Noble, Esq._] [_Henley._
RHEA AND YOUNG ONES.
Although frequently bred in this country, the young do not seem to be
easily reared.]
[Illustration: _Photo by Scholastic Photo. Co._] [_Parson's Green._
RHEA LYING DOWN.
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 RHEA 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 come
up with them. The only chance of ultimately capturing them is by wearing
them out 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.
The rhea is in danger of disappearing altogether as a wild bird, owing to
the ruthless 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 River 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 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 striped. The egg is
very large, of a cream colour, and deeply pitted.
[Illustration: _Photo by J. T. Newman_] [_Berkhamsted._
RHEAS IN TRING 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.]
Darwin, in his "Voyage of the Beagle," tells us that when he was "at Bahia
Blanca, in 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 Gauchos 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, when on the nest, lies very close: I have myself almost ridden
over one. It is asserted that at such times they are occasionally fierce
and even dangerous, and that they have been known 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 the male emu in the Zoological Gardens takes charge of the nest: this
habit, therefore, is common to the family.
[Illustration: _Photo by the Duchess of Bedford_] [_Woburn Abbey._
WHITE RHEAS.
These are only varieties of the common form, not a distinct breed.]
"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 periods in different nests, and several hens
... combined together, then the eggs in one 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 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
some 8 feet high, and weighing about 300 lbs. It is flightless, the wings
being smaller, in proportion to the size of the body, than in the rhea. But
the energy which in other birds is 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, when the pace may
be considerable; but if circumstances demand "full speed ahead," they are
held close to the body, where they offer the least resistance to speed.
[Illustration: _Photo by W. Reid_] [_Wishaw, N.B._
OSTRICH STANDING BESIDE HER EGGS.
In a wild state both cock and hen take part in the preparation of the
nest.]
With the gradual perfection of its running powers, there has followed a
gradual change in the form of the leg. This change has taken place by
reduction in the number of the toes. Of the original five with which its
ancestors began life only two now remain--the third and fourth. The third
is of great size, having apparently waxed great at the expense of the other
toes, a growth which seems to be still in progress, inasmuch as the fourth
toe is undoubtedly dwindling. It is very small, and gives unmistakable
signs of growing smaller, since it has now become nailless. When it has
quite disappeared, the ostrich, like the horse, will have but a single toe
on each foot--the third. The dainty, mincing step of the ostrich is a
delight to watch, and, thanks to the Zoological Gardens, this can be done
even in smoky London.
The ostrich, like its cousin of South America, the rhea, commonly
associates with herds of the larger mammalia. On the South African veldt
the companions of the ostrich are the zebra, wildebeest, and hartebeest,
just as on the pampas of South America the rheas are found associated with
herds of deer and guanaco.
The egg of the ostrich weighs about 3 lbs., and is of delicious flavour.
The empty shell, it has been found by experiment, is large enough to hold
the contents of eighteen eggs of the common domesticated fowl. It takes
about forty minutes to boil an ostrich egg hard. About fifteen eggs
represent the clutch. The nest is a mere depression in the sand. The hen
sits by day, and her mate by night; but the eggs are _never_ left, as is
sometimes stated, to the heat of the sun, so as to lessen the duties of the
parent. Such a course would infallibly destroy the eggs, for the sun's
rays, especially at noon, are very powerful.
The male and female ostrich differ much in coloration. In the former the
trunk is clothed in a vestment of richest black, whilst the quills of the
wings and tail-feathers are of pure white: they form the much-prized
ostrich plumes. The female is much less splendid, being clothed in sober
grey. But these colours are not merely ornamental; they render the male by
night and the female by day invisible, owing to the perfect harmony they
make with their surroundings, thus affording an interesting illustration of
protective coloration.
"All ostriches," says Mr. Cronwright Schreiner, "adults as well as chicks,
have a strange habit known as 'waltzing.' When chicks are let out from a
kraal in the early morning, they will often start away at a great pace.
After running for a few hundred yards they will all stop, and, with wings
raised, spin round rapidly for some time, often till quite giddy, when a
broken leg occasionally occurs. Adult birds, when running in large camps,
will often, if the veldt is good, do the same, especially if startled in
the fresh of the early morning. A troop of birds waltzing, in full plumage,
is a remarkably pretty sight. Vicious cocks 'roll' when challenging to
fight, also when wooing the hen. The cock will suddenly bump down on to his
'knees' ... open his wings, making a straight line across his breast, and
then swing them alternately backwards and forwards ... as if on a pivot,
each wing, as it comes forward, being raised, while that going backward is
depressed. The neck is lowered until the head is on a level with the back,
and the head and neck swing from side to side with the wings, the back of
the head striking with a loud click against the ribs, first on the one side
and then on the other. The click is produced by the skin of the neck, which
then bulges loosely just under the beak and for some distance downwards.
While 'rolling,' every feather over the whole body is on end, and the
plumes are open, like a large white fan. At such a time the bird sees very
imperfectly, if at all; in fact, he seems so preoccupied that, if pursued,
one may often approach unnoticed. I have walked up to a 'rolling' cock and
seized him by the neck, much to his surprise. Just before rolling, a cock,
especially if courting the hen, will often run slowly and daintily on the
points of his toes, with neck slightly inflated, upright and rigid, the
tail half drooped, and all his body-feathers fluffed up; the wings raised
and expanded, the inside edges touching the sides of the neck for nearly
the whole of its length, and the plumes showing separately, like an open
fan ... on each side of his head. In no other attitude is the splendid
beauty of his plumage displayed to such advantage."
[Illustration: _Photo by W. Reid_] [_Wishaw, N.B._
OSTRICHES TEN DAYS OLD.
The down-feathers of young ostriches are quite different from those of
other birds, the tips of each being produced into a horny ribbon.]
The males are very fierce while guarding their eggs or fighting for mates,
and kick with extraordinary violence with their powerful legs. As an
example of their fierceness when aroused, Mr. Cronwright Schreiner, who
knows much of these birds, relates a story, told him by a railway-guard, of
an old male who charged a goods-train coming at full speed down a steep
gradient. The bird, as soon as he caught sight of the train, at once got on
the line, "and advanced fearlessly to fight the monster. As the screeching
engine approached, he rushed at it from straight in front, hissing angrily,
and kicked. He was cut to pieces the next moment."
[Illustration: _Photo by Mr. Glenday_] [_Cape Town._
AN OSTRICH FAMILY.
The cock bird is an unusually fine specimen, measuring exactly 8 feet from
head to foot.]
The Bedouin tribes hunt the ostrich on dromedaries, so also do the natives
of Somaliland, and when near enough shoot it with poisoned arrows. In the
Sahara, Canon Tristram tells us it is ridden down on horseback, a method of
capture which the Sahara sportsman regards as the greatest feat of hunting.
"The Bushmen," says Mr. Harting, "like the Somalis, kill the ostrich with
poisoned arrows, or catch it very cleverly in pit-falls or with the lasso,
and the Sukurieh and Hadendawah tribes likewise use the lasso, with which
the bird, when once fairly caught, is strangled.... A favourite plan is to
wait for the birds in a place of concealment, as near as possible to the
pools to which they come for water, and then, with a gun loaded with
swan-shot, to fire at their necks as they stoop to drink, when perhaps half
a dozen are laid low at once.... Another plan to which the Bushman often
resorts is simpler still. Having found an ostrich's nest, he removes all
the eggs, and, ensconcing himself in the nest, quietly awaits the return of
the bird, which he shoots with a poisoned arrow before it has time to
recover from its surprise at finding him there instead of the eggs.... In
Senaar the Abû-Rôf bring it down by throwing a curved flat stick from 2½ to
3 feet long, not unlike the Australian boomerang, and made of tough
acacia-wood or hard zizyphus."
[Illustration: _Photo by Schroeder_] [_Zurich._
A GROUP OF COCK OSTRICHES.
Note the conspicuous tail in these birds; it is wanting in other members of
the Ostrich Tribe.]
Mr. Arthur Glynn, of Leydenburg, gives a graphic description of an ostrich
hunt, his quarry being a troop of twenty birds--"on sighting which," he
tells us, "we immediately gave chase, discovering directly afterwards that
a single bull wildebeeste was among them. After a stiff gallop," he says,
"of half a mile, we got within seventy yards of the troop; so reining in,
we both dismounted and fired, bringing down one ostrich and the wildebeeste
bull.... We quickly mounted and continued the pursuit, the ostriches never
running for any distance in a direct course, but always turning and
twisting, which made it difficult for us to keep them in sight.... We went
sailing on, neck and neck, regardless of holes or anything else, only
thinking of the grandly plumaged birds in front of us, our horses straining
every nerve to overtake them, as only old stagers know how to run when in
pursuit of game. We had now approached within fifty yards, and, jumping
down, we fired at two cock birds running separately from the troop,
bringing them both down. Hastily mounting, we continued on after the
retreating troop; but at this juncture my friend's horse trod in a hole,
sending his rider over his head, thereby completely putting him out of the
run. I now continued the chase by myself. For a mile the ostriches gained
on me, as they continued to run in a straight line, thereby not enabling me
to cut off any point, but obliging me to keep in their rear all the
time.... I got off twice, and fired several fruitless shots, and then
continued the chase for certainly two miles without dismounting once.... I
now got within a hundred yards, and jumped down.... The first shot I fired
brought down a fine cock bird, but the second struck the ground over the
others, turning them to the right along a low ridge. They appeared very
much exhausted, and ran with their wings spread out.... I saw that they
were coming direct for me, and waited until they were close.... When the
ostriches approached within fifteen yards, I selected the best-looking
bird, and put a bullet through him. He ran on for about twenty yards and
fell dead."
[Illustration: _Photo by W. P. Dando, F.Z.S._] [_Regent's Park._
SCLATER'S CASSOWARY.
This bird is not yet full grown, the horny casque on the top of the head
being much larger in the adult.]
CASSOWARIES AND EMEUS.
With the Cassowaries and Emeus we have come as near as we can get at the
present day to the representatives of the ancient type from which the
Ostrich Tribe have sprung. But both these forms are to be regarded as
having passed the prime of their development, for, like their allies which
we have already considered, they have lost the power of flight. Both emeu
and cassowary possess, when adult, one character shared by no other living
adult bird: they have what may be called double feathers, each feather
possessing two shafts of equal length. They appear to follow a custom of
their own in the matter of the coloration of their eggs, since these are
never white, like those of the rhea or ostrich, but green, with a very
rough surface. The young, like those of the rhea, are striped with
alternate black and white stripes. The emeu is found only on the continent
of Australia; the cassowary occurs both in Australia and on the
neighbouring islands of New Guinea, Ceram, and Aru.
The lot of the CASSOWARY appears to have been cast in pleasant places,
making it possible to indulge in the luxury of personal decoration--a
decoration, moreover, shared equally by the males and females, both sexes
having the head and neck most brilliantly coloured. In some species all the
hues of the rainbow are vividly reflected. To show these colours, the
feathery covering, still worn by their relatives on the distant continents
of Africa and America, has been cast off and the skin left bare. To these
gorgeous hues they have added yet other features, for the head is
surmounted in many species by a huge casque, or helmet; whilst from the
neck depend curious fleshy lobes, or wattles, coloured in accordance with
the rest of the bare, coloured skin of this region. Then, too, they have
effected quite a novel transformation in the quills of the wing, for these
project on either side of the body in a series of shining black spines. Nor
is this all, for over and above the energy which they have to spare for
personal decoration is a very large reserve to be expended in fighting. The
males are very pugnacious, and to give point to this pugnacity they wear a
very formidable weapon on the inner toe in the shape of a huge nail, which
can inflict a really dangerous wound. It is used in kicking, the foot being
brought forwards and downwards with incredible speed and great force. When
wounded, these powerful birds are very dangerous to approach. "On more than
one occasion a wounded bird has caused a naturalist to take to a tree. The
sharp nail of the inner toe is a most dangerous weapon, quite equal to the
claw of a large kangaroo, and capable of doing quite as much execution."
[Illustration: _Photo by D. Le Souef_] [_Melbourne._
NEST AND EGGS OF EMEU.
The feet of the old bird, which was standing near, can be seen behind the
eggs.]
Although forest-haunting birds--wherein they differ from their allies,
which are plain-dwellers--the cassowaries are adepts at swimming. There is
a danger that these beautiful and interesting birds will slowly be
exterminated by greedy and thoughtless settlers. The Australian cassowary
is already decreasing sadly, being persecuted for the sake of its skin,
which is used for rugs and doormats.
[Illustration: _Photo by D. Le Souef_] [_Melbourne._
YOUNG EMEUS FIVE DAYS OLD.
Young emeus just out of the shell have the legs beautifully spotted, but
these spots are rapidly lost.]
The EMEU, though a sort of cousin of the cassowary, boasts none of its
splendour; on the contrary, it is a dull, dowdy-looking bird. In size,
however, it is much larger than the cassowary. The wings, which are
exceedingly small, have numerous tiny quill-feathers--not long, hard
spines, as in the cassowary. When in captivity, it exhibits great
curiosity; furthermore, it is swift to realise symptoms of fear in the
faces of any visitor whom it may have under inspection. Occasionally fear
turns into flight, and then, thoroughly entering into the joke, the emeu
pursues at top speed. Needless to say, hunting of this kind can only be
done in fairly large paddocks or parks; but emeus are frequently so kept.
A very remarkable and quite unique structure in the emeu is a curious bag
or pouch, formed by a sort of out-pocketing of the inner lining of the
windpipe. Emerging through a long slit caused by the incompleteness of some
of the rings near the middle of the windpipe, the pouch comes to lie
between this tube and the skin. Strangely enough, it is found only in the
female, and is used by her chiefly during the breeding-season, when she
utters a peculiarly loud booming note, which, it is supposed, is caused by
the manipulation of the air in the pouch. When moved by any gentle
excitement or pleasure, especially on damp evenings or in the dead of
night, she also becomes musical, giving forth a note which has been likened
to a gong or muffled drum. The male, which is smaller, fleeter of foot, and
more docile and inquisitive, is mute, or at most gives forth a suppressed
hiss when angry, or a kind of grunt when distressed.
[Illustration: _Photo by Scholastic Photo. Co._] [_Parson's Green._
YOUNG EMEUS.
After a few weeks the black and white stripes become much less
conspicuous.]
At one time the emeu roamed over the whole of the mainland of Australia;
but now, alas! it is almost exterminated, being found only far inland and
in steadily diminishing numbers. Swift of foot and of great powers of
endurance, the emeu has afforded in the past much "sport" to the
hunting-man, who followed the dogs, doubtless making comparisons the while
between his two-legged prey and his four-footed friend Reynard. The hunt
does not end till the bird is thoroughly exhausted, when it must be seized
at once by the neck, in order to prevent it kicking, for the legs are so
powerful that a blow from the foot is dangerous.
[Illustration: _Photo by J. T. Newman_] [_Berkhamsted._
EMEU.
The feathers of the neck of the emeu are much longer than in the rhea;
hence the neck seems shorter.]
Incubation is apparently performed by the male, which sits from fifty-four
to sixty-four days. Practically no nest is made, only a shallow hollow
being scraped in the sand. The eggs, from seven to thirteen in number, are
of a dark bottle-green colour, sometimes lighter, and have the surfaces
curiously roughened. The male is smaller than the female, a fact which has
led to some confusion, the larger female having at one time been regarded
as the male. It will be noted that the emeus not only lack the brilliant
colour of the cassowaries, but also the helmet, or casque.
The late Mr. Gould's remarks on the edibility of the emeu are interesting.
He says: "Its flesh has been compared to coarse beef, which it resembles,
according to Mr. Cunningham, both in appearance and taste, and is good and
sweet eating; nothing, indeed, can be more delicate than the flesh of the
young ones. There is little fit for culinary use upon any part of the emu,
except the hindquarters, which are of such dimensions that the shouldering
of the two hind legs homeward for a mile distance once proved to me as
tiresome a task as I ever recollect to have encountered in the colony. I
may remark that its flesh proved of the greatest service to Dr. Leichardt
and his intrepid companions during their overland route from Moreton Bay to
Port Essington, in the course of which, but more particularly between the
head of the Gulf of Carpentaria and Port Essington, the sight and capture
of the emu was almost a daily occurrence; so abundant, in fact, was it,
that he states that he saw in the short space of eight miles at least a
hundred, in flocks of three, five, ten, and even more at a time. On the
continent of Australia the emu was formerly abundant about Botany Bay and
Port Jackson Harbour, but is now only to be seen in the plains of the
interior, over whose solitudes it roams in great numbers, and where it
breeds, depending on the strength and swiftness of its legs to avoid the
pursuit of the stockmen and their dogs. Farther and farther back, however,
will it be driven, until it be extirpated, unless some law be instituted to
check its wanton destruction."
[Illustration: _Photo by Robert D. Carson, Esq._] [_Philadelphia._
MANTELL'S KIWI, NEW ZEALAND, NORTH ISLAND.
When feeding, the kiwi makes a sniffing sound, distinctly audible at some
distance.]
In a wild state emeus take readily to the water, and have on more than one
occasion been seen swimming across a wide river. The South American rhea is
also known to be a good swimmer.
The COMMON EMEU is restricted to Eastern Australia. The opposite side of
this great continent is inhabited by another and very distinct species,
known as the SPOTTED EMEU.
THE APTERYX.
To see the APTERYX at home, we should have to travel to far New Zealand,
and to hunt with infinite patience when we got there. Apteryx-hunting, it
has been found, to be successful, must be done by the help of dogs. Sir
Walter Buller has written some very spirited accounts of such hunts.
Europeans, indeed, have been singularly successful in this hunting, whereby
they have done much to enhance the value of this bird by hastening its fast
approaching and inevitable extermination.
[Illustration: _Photo by Robert D. Carson, Esq._] [_Philadelphia._
OWEN'S KIWI, NEW ZEALAND, SOUTH ISLAND.
This is the smallest of the kiwis.]
The natives call this bird the Kiwi, from its call-note, "ki-i-wi." These
cries are uttered during the early hours of the night, ceasing after
midnight. They appear to have great penetrating power.
----