THE BLACK, OR GREAT OSTRICH. 293 



THE BLACK, OR GREAT OSTRICH. 



This Ostrich stands so higli as to measure from seven to nine feet 

 from the top of the head to the ground. From the back, however, it 

 is seldom more than three or four feet, the rest of its height being made 

 up by its extremely long neck. The head is small ; and, as well as the 

 greater part of the ne(;k, is covered only with a few scattered hairs. 

 The feathers of the body are black and loose ; those of the wings and 

 tail are of a snowy white, waved, and long, having here and there a tip 

 of black. The wings are furnished with spurs. The thighs and flanks 

 are naked ; and the feet are strong, and of a gray-brown color. The 

 foot of the Ostrich is not a little remarkable. It is divided into two 

 toes only, and each toe, well padded beneath, is armed at the extremity 

 with what may be properly called a hoof- The whole strongly 

 resembles the foot of the camel. 



The sandy and burning deserts of Africa and Asia are the only 

 native residences of the Black Ostriches. Here these birds are seen in 

 flocks, so extensive as sometimes to have been mistaken for distant 

 cavalry. 



There are many circumstances in the economy of the Ostrich, which 

 differ from those of the feathered race in general. This bird seems 

 to form one of the links of union in the great chain of nature, connect- 

 ing the winged with the four-footed tribes- Its strong-jointed legs, 

 and (if I may venture so to call them) cloven hoofs, are well adapted 

 both for speed and for defence. Its wings are insufficient to raise it from 

 the ground : its camel-shaped neck is covered with hair : its voice is a 

 kind of hollow, mournful lowing: and it grazes on the plain with the 

 Quagga and the Zebra. 



Ostriches are frequently injurious to farmers in the interior of 

 Southern Africa, by coming in flocks into their fields, and destroying 

 the ears of wheat so effectually, that in a large tract of land they some- 

 times leave nothing but the mere straw behind- The body of the bird 

 is not higher than the corn ; and when it devours the ears, it bends down 

 its long neck, so that at a little distance it cannot be seen ; but on the 

 least noise it real's its head, and generally contrives to escape before the 

 farmer gets within gun-shot of it- 



AVheu the Ostrich runs, it has a proud and haughty apj^earance ; 

 and, ev^en when in extreme distress, never appears in great haste, 

 especially if the wind be with it. Its wings are frequently of material 

 use in aiding its escai)e ; for, when the wind blows in the direcrtion 

 that it is pursuing, it always flaps them. In this case the swiftest horse 

 cannot overtake it: but if the weather be hot, and there be no wind, 

 the difficulty of out-running it is not so great. 



Ostriches are polygamous birds ; one male being seen with two or 

 three, and sometimes with five females. It has been commonly believed, 

 that the female Ostrich, after depositing her eggs in the sand, and 

 there covering them up, trusts them to be hatched by the heat of the 

 climate, and leaves the young-ones to provide for themselves. Even 

 the author of the book of Job alludes to this popular notion respecting 



