272 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE. 



Land, which is still further to the south, but is geographi- 

 cally considered to be part of Africa. 



THE OSTRICH. 



Family — StnitJiionidce. 



Genus — StriitJiio. S. cavielus. Ostrich. 



It is strange that most countries have a wingless bird 

 peculiar to them. Thus Australia has its emu ; New Guinea 

 its cassowary ; New Zealand its apteryx ; America its rhea ; 

 and small islands, such as Mauritus and Bourbon, had their 

 dodo and solitaire respectively ; but Africa has its well- 

 known Ostrich, the monarch of them all, rivalling the 

 extinct dinornis in point of size. 



This fine bird is so well-known as the provider of the 

 plumes that figure so largely in court ceremonies, as well 

 as in the attire of ladies of all nationalities, that it may be 

 summarily dismissed with the remark that the feathers are 

 cut from the adult birds when they are still in their recent 

 or finest condition, and are not plucked — an operation that 

 is apt to cause the mutilated bird to die from infiammatory 

 fever. 



