American homes and gardens (1908) (18156401705)

Title: American homes and gardens

Identifier: americanhomesgar51908newy (find matches)

Year: 1905 (1900s)

Authors:

Subjects: Architecture, Domestic; Landscape gardening

Publisher: New York : Munn and Co

Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries

Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

Text Appearing Before Image:

352 AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS September, 1908 A French Rhea and Cassowary Farm

Text Appearing After Image:

HtSJiiSiiiJt. Geoff Saint-Hilaire advised the introduction into Europe of the casso- wary of New Zealand and the rhea, or "American ostrich," of South America, asserting that these birds could probably be acclimated without difficulty, as their natural habitats differ little in climate from Europe. The opinion of the great naturalist has been fully confirmed by the results of experiments made in recent years. Rheas are now do- mesticated and bred not only in the zoological gardens of Germany, England, France, Belgium and Holland, but also in private establishments. They are raised extensively and very successfully in nine departments of France. Both rheas and cassowaries pass the winter without injury in the open air or in primitive shelters, like those shown in the accom- panying photographs. The South American rhea (Rhea Americana), the only species regularly bred in France, is distinguished from its near relative, the ostrich, by a shorter beak, a more slender foot with three toes, instead of the two of the ostrich, a head and neck less denuded of plumage, and wings of less rudi- mentary character, though still useless for flight. The plum- age of the adult rhea, also, is less striking in coloring than that of the ostrich, tan, brown and gray shades replacing pure white and black. The general appearance is similar to that of the emu. On the farm at Melun, where the accompanying photo- graphs were taken, the rheas are kept in inclosures about twenty yards square surrounded by wire netting about four feet in height. It would be better, however, to put them in large meadows, where they could run, if necessary, with sheep, cows or horses, to which they soon become accustomed. In this way they could be kept more cheaply and advan- tageously, for they do not, like geese, pull up grass by the roots, and they feed largely on weeds disdained by the ani- mals, and also destroy many noxious insects. A daily meal of bran and chopped potatoes, beets or carrots is given in addition to green fodder. The rhea attains its maturity at the age of three years. It A Rhea Pen at Melun then measures about fifty-two inches from the tip of the bill to the ends of the downy rump feathers which take the place of a tail. The head is dark brown. The color of the neck is ash gray, becoming darker at the base and almost black be- tween the shoulders, and the face and ears are flesh col- ored. The back and wings are slate colored, and the breast shades from dirty white at the throat to a blackish hue in the lower part. The legs are bare and covered with large gray scales in front. The nearly white abdomen of the male is conspicuously marked with two black crescents. In France the rhea begins to lay in March or April. The male bird digs a shallow pit in the earth, under a tree if pos- sible, and lines it roughly with twigs, moss, leaves and a few feathers. The rhea is polygamous, and one male will suffice for from three to seven females. As soon as three or four eggs have been laid the male begins to sit, and as addi- tional eggs are laid beside him by the female he gathers them under him with his bill, head and neck. He will cover as many as twenty eggs at once if he is permitted to do so, but in order to avoid irregularity in hatching, the first dozen eggs are marked and the others removed as soon as they are found in the nest. When a dozen eggs have thus been removed they are marked differently from the first dozen and put in place of the latter under the male, and again the newly laid eggs are removed every few days. In this way the eggs are hatched in batches of a dozen. Each female lays from twenty-five to fifty eggs a year, half in March and April, and half in July and August. The male alone broods, fasting and remaining on the nest during the period of incubation, which extends from thirty-four to forty days. Artificial incubation has been attempted at the Melun establishment, but great care is required in order to raise the young birds hatched in this way. The young rheas grow rapidly, and are little affected by the variable French climate. Their favorite food consists of hard boiled eggs, bread, bran and chopped green fodder. The male bird is an admirable nurse unless his attention is

american homes and gardens 1908 book illustrations zoological illustration ornithology birds architecture natural history gardening domestic architecture flight animal locomotion high resolution images from internet archive

1908

Brown University Library

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public domain