132 Wild Birds and their Haunts 



BIRDS WHOSE FEET AND LEGS ARE 

 STRONGLY IN EVIDENCE. 



THE bird most celebrated for fleetness in r jnning is 

 the Ostrich, or Bird-camel (Struthio camelus), as 

 it may well be named. ' ' What time she lifteth 

 up herself on high," says Job, " she scorneth the horse 

 and his rider." 



According to most writers, the wings serve both for 

 sails and oars, whilst the feet, which have only two toes, 

 and are not unlike the camel's, can bear great fatigue. M. 

 Montbeillard, however, was of opinion that it does not 

 spread its wings and tail-feathers with the view of assist- 

 ing its motion, but from tne common effect of the 

 corresponding muscles, as a man in swimming throws 

 out his arms. Though the ostrich is universally admitted 

 to run faster than the fleetest horse, the Arabs contrive to 

 run these birds down on horseback, their feathers being 

 valuable and their flesh not to be despised. 



The best and fleetest horses are trained for this chase. 

 When the hunter has started his game he puts his horse 

 upon a gentle gallop, so as to keep the ostrich in sight 

 without coming too near to alarm it and put it to its full 

 speed. Upon observing itself pursued, therefore, it 

 begins to run at first but gently, its wings, like two arms, 

 keeping alternate motion with its feet. It seldom runs 

 in a direct line, but, like the hare, doubles, or rather 

 courses in a circular manner, while the hunters, taking 

 the diameter or tracing a smaller circle, meet the birds 

 at unexpected turns, and with less fatigue to the horses. 

 This chase is often continued for a day or two, when the 

 poor ostrich is starved out and exhausted, and, finding all 

 power of escape impossible, it endeavours to hide itself 

 from the enemies it cannot avoid, running into some 

 thicket or burying its head in the sand. The hunters 

 then rush in at full speed, heading as much as possible 

 against the wind, and kill the bird with clubs, lest the 

 feathers should be soiled with blood. 



