260 FACULTIES OF BIRDS. 
caught by the hand; it often stops short and squats 
down; the dog, pushing eagerly forward, overshoots 
the spot, and loses the trace; the bird, it is said, 
profits by its blunder, and runs back on its path; 
nor does it spring till driven to the last extremity 
and then it rises toa good height before it stretches 
onward. It flies heavily, and never to a great dis- 
tance. It is usually seen to alight, but in vain 
should we search for it; before the fowler has 
reached the spot, the bird has tripped off more than 
a hundred paces. The fleetness of its feet compen- 
Sates for the tardiness ‘of its wings: all its little ex- 
cursions, its windings, and its doublings in the field 
and meadows, are performed by running.”* 
The bird, however, most celebrated for fleetness 
of running is the ostrich, or bird-camel (Struthio 
Camelus), as if may well be named. ‘“ What time 
she lifteth up herself on high,” says Job, ‘she 
scorneth the horse and his rider.”t According to 
Dr. Shaw, the wings serve her both for sails and 
oars, while her feet, which have only two toes, 
and are not unlike the camel’s, can bear great fa- 
tigue. M. Montbeillard, however, is of opinion 
that it does not spread its wings and tail-feathers 
with the view of assisting its motion, but from the 
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, yet 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 ostricl 
in sight, without coming too near to alarm it and 
put it to its full speed. Upon observing itself pur- 
sued, therefore, it begins to run at first but gently, 
* Oiseaux, Art. Le Rale de Genet. 
t Job xxxiv., 18, 
