792 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
Mr. T. E. Buckley states that it is still common in the Matabele 
country, but much hunted for the sake of its feathers. Mr. Ayres 
also writes: “ The Ostrich is sparingly distributed throughout the 
Mashoona country, frequenting generally the more open shallow 
valleys. In the Bamangwato country they are much more plentiful.” 
According to Mr. Andersson, it is ‘ pretty commonly distributed 
over the boundless wastes and plains of both Great Namaqua and 
Damara Land.” 
General colour, black in the male; cinereous in the female and 
young male; feathers of the spurious wings and tail, pure white, or 
sometimes mottled with black ; neck covered with brown hair-like 
feathers ; stands about eight feet high. 
