260 EASILY DOMESTICATED CHASE ON HORSEBACK. 



which enables ostrich and camel to inhabit and traverse arid 

 and desert regions, the resemblance is by no means so im- 

 aginary as one might at first suppose. Indeed, to many of 

 the nations of the East,* as well as to the Romans and the 

 Greeks, the ostrich was known by the name of the camel- 

 bird. 



The ostrich is easily domesticated, but is sometimes of a 

 vicious disposition. The Rev. Mr. Hahn, if I remember 

 rightly, told me that some of these birds, which he kept in 

 confinement for a considerable period, became so mischievous 

 that, lest they might injure any of the people on the station, 

 he was obliged to kill them. 



Several persons have tried to breed from the tame ostrich ; 

 but, to the best of my belief, all attempts have hitherto proved 

 abortive. Eggs, however, have been frequently obtained, 

 but the birds never showed any inclination to sit upon them. 

 At the Regent's Park Gardens, moreover, repeated trials have 

 been made to hatch the eggs by artificial means, but without 

 success. 



The expedients resorted to in South Africa to capture the 

 ostrich are various. Not unfrequently it is ridden down by 

 men on horseback. Several hunters take different sides of a 

 large plain, thus hemming the bird in, and chasing it back- 

 ward and forward until its strength is exhausted. 



The ostrich is also at times ridden down by a single horse- 

 man. Under ordinary circumstances, fleet as the horse may 

 be, this would be impossible. Toward the approach of the 

 rainy season, however, when the days are intolerably hot 

 and oppressive, the giant bird may be seen standing motion- 

 less on the plain, with wings spread and beak wide open ; 

 and at such times the capture may be accomplished. In- 

 deed, cases have come under my notice where Namaquas, 



* Among the people of Persia and Arabia the vulgar belief is said 

 to exist " that the shutur-moorg (the camel-bird) is produced by the 

 union of a camel with a bird I" 



