United States or Paraguay ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
There the climate is much colder than up here, and the avestruz petise, as the bird's called, seems to like that best; since it's never seen on the warm pampas farther north. On the other hand, the sort we have here, which is the biggest of all, never strays down to these very cold districts, but goes all over the Chaco country, where it's hottest.
"I know the nature of avestruz well enough to say for certain, that, after the scare they've had they'll stay shy for several hours, and 'twill be impossible to approach them; that is, near enough for the longest-range gun we've got. And to run them down with our horses would be to lose a day's journey at least. We can't afford that, for the sake of a bit of breakfast. No, 'twould never do.
This can hardly be the case in America, because the huachos, although often found addled and putrid, are generally whole. When at the Rio Negro in Northern Patagonia, I repeatedly heard the Gauchos talking of a very rare bird which they called Avestruz Petise. They said its colour was dark and mottled, and that its legs were shorter, and feathered lower down than those of the common ostrich.
Among the Patagonian Indians in the Strait of Magellan, we found a half Indian, who had lived some years with the tribe, but had been born in the northern provinces. I asked him if he had ever heard of the Avestruz Petise? He answered by saying, "Why, there are none others in these southern countries."
The third kind I've seen is in bulk about midways between the two; but it's a very rare bird, and I believe not known to the learned naturalistas. Isn't that so, Senor Ludwig?" "Indeed, yes. I never heard of a third species, though father has told me of the avestruz petise; which, as you say, is only found far south, ranging from the Rio Negro to the Straits of Magellan."
Carramba! a curious bird, the avestruz is altogether, and a useful one, as we've now good reason to know. So, senoritos, let us be thankful to Providence that there's such a plenty of them on these pampas, and above all, for guiding the steps of this fine specimen, as to place it so directly and opportunely in our way."
It is on account of this tricky instinct of the rhea that the gauchos say, "El avestruz es el mas gaucho de los animales," which means that the ostrich, in its resourcefulness and the tricks it practises to save itself when hard pressed, is as clever as the gaucho knows himself to be.
"Though the thing isn't generally known," he says, "there are several distinct kinds of avestruz in different parts of the country. Of myself I've seen three. First, a very small sort, not much bigger than a turkey cock. It's darker coloured than the kind we're eating, with shorter legs and feathered further down.
This can hardly be the case in America, because the huachos, although often found addled and putrid, are generally whole. When at the Rio Negro in Northern Patagonia, I repeatedly heard the Gauchos talking of a very rare bird which they called Avestruz Petise. They said its colour was dark and mottled, and that its legs were shorter, and feathered lower down than those of the common ostrich.
"Gracios a Dios!" is the gaucho's gratified exclamation at sight of them; continuing in low tone and speaking over his shoulder, "A couple of avestruz!" The others, gliding up to him, and looking through the leaves, also behold the birds, seeing them from head to foot.
Word Of The Day