File:Little folks in feathers and fur, and others in neither (1875) (14781013701).jpg

Identifier: littlefolksinfea00mill (find matches)
Title: Little folks in feathers and fur, and others in neither
Year: 1875 (1870s)
Authors: (Miller, Harriet (Mann) Mrs.), 1831- (from old catalog)
Subjects: Zoology
Publisher: Hartford, Conn., Dustin, Gilman & co. Cincinnati, Ohio, Queen city publishing co. (etc., etc.)
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
e fathertakes care of the house, or nest, making it himself, sitting onthe eggs, and taking care of the little ones. He makes the nest insome quiet place among bushes, or weeds, and it consists of ashallow hole, with dried grass laid in it. When the nest is readythe anxious Papa kindly allows his wives — of which he has six orseven by the way—to lay eggs in it, till there are as many as hechooses to take care of—some writers say fifteen or sixteen, andothers thirty or forty. You can believe which you please Whenthere are as many as he likes, he takes possession of the nursery,and his wives politely retire to some distance, though not very far,while he does his sitting. He is very faithful, sticking to the nesttill he is almost run over before he will leave, and only leaving itwhen the sun is hot. IN FEATHERS AND FUR, 101 About the beginning of February, the baby Nandus begin tocome out of the eggs, and then the careful Papa takes them out inthe neighborhood tor something to eat.
Text Appearing After Image:
For four or five weeks, they do not see their Mammas, butwhen they are as old as that, the family gradually gets togetheragain, and all go in one flock. They eat grass and clover, and arcspecially useful in eating the seeds of a plant which bears burrsthat do great damage by getting entangled in the wool of sheep. At all times, too, they eat insects and snakes, and other smallreptiles. 102 LITTLE FOLKS These birds are very valuable to the people where they live,and are hunted with the lasso, and sometimes with dogs. Theflesh is eaten, and the fat made into oil. Of the skin of the neck,bags are made, and the poorer feathers are woven into beautifulrugs. The best feathers are almost as valuable as those of theAfrican Ostrich, and the next in quality are made into dustbrushes. The eggs also are much liked. One Nandu egg is equal tofifteen hens eggs, and it cooks in its own shell, in the same way asthose of his African namesake. They are said to live fifteen years, and are easily tamed, b

Note About Images