616 



AVES— AMERICAN OSTRICH. 



beetles, &c, afford a means of sustenance to the young. This, however, 

 may be considered as apocryphal. 



When first hatched, the young ones are familiar, and follow the first per- 

 son they meet. I have been followed myself, says Wafer, by many of these 

 young ostriches, which at first are extremely harmless and simple ; but, as 

 they grow older, they become more cunning and distrustful ; and run so 

 swift, that a greyhound can scarcely overtake them. Their flesh, in general, 



is good to be eaten, especially if they be young. It would be no difficult 

 matter to rear up flocks of these animals tame, particularly as they are 

 naturally so familiar; and they might be found to answer domestic purposes, 

 like the hen or the turkey. Their maintenance could not be expensive, if, 

 a» Narborough says, they live entirely upon grass. Like the ostrich, the 

 touyou is indiscriminately voracious ; swallowing stones, iron, and other 

 hard substances. 



