Bulletin - United States National Museum - si-pddr - Smithsonian ...

BIEDS OF ARGENTINA, PAEAGUAY, URUGUAY, AND CHILE 25
like some other pets, however, they have a surprising rapidity in
growth, and soon develop to a point where they become a nuisance
through an appetite that is satisfied omnivorously with whatever
may offer that is small enough to swallow from the vegetables prepared
for dinner, seized instantly when the cook's attention is at-
tracted elsewhere, to the watch or shaving soap of the unfortunate
owner.
An egg secured on September 23, 120 kilometers west of Puerto
Pinasco, is between pale olive-buff and olive-buff in color, and has
the shell roughened by fine short corrugations that at short inter-
vals form slit-like pores several times longer than wide, with their
axes in general longitudinal to the axis of the egg. This egg measures
135.2 by 96.5 mm. Rhea eggs, made into a batter with flour and
fried, were excellent eating, and were sought after during the early
breeding season. A single egg, thus prepared, Avas sufficient for
three persons.
I am indebted to Carl Hettman for the following note on this
species, based mainly on observations made on the upper E.io Pilcomayo.
In that region the rhea nest mainly in September and October.
The male is said to select a nest site on loose sandy soil, among
tall grass in some secluded corner near forest or perhaps in a small,
well-screened opening in the monte. A hole more or less circular a
meter across is scratched out to a depth of from 100 to 150 mm.
The females deposit their eggs in this. Frequently, in fact, nearly
always, single eggs loiown as guacho (stray) eggs are found near by.
It is supposed that they are deposited by females who visit the nest
to find it occupied by some other member of the harem of their
polygamous mate. Should the nest be found, the male is encountered
near at hand. To attract attention from his treasures he dashes
about with spread wings, but makes no effort (in the wild bird) to
attack.
The breeding season varied, I found, with the locality. Mention
has been made of the period in the Paraguayan Chaco. On Decem-
ber 8, in the hills back of Zapala, in the Territory of Neuquen, I en-
countered a male that had either eggs or small young concealed in
a broad hollow, though search failed to reveal them. On February
2, north of San Vicente, Department of Rocha, Uruguay, I
noted a male with chicks a week old, and were told that others were
breeding.
Rhea flesh is eaten, the wings forming the portion most highly
prized, and, in addition, parts of the bird figure as remedies in the
country medicine chest. From the upper part of the stomach, preserved
in a dried form, portions, cut up as needed, are boiled to make
a tea said to be a specific for indigestion, a curious use for the powerful
digestive agents found in the stomach of this bird. An oil found