CH. xi] OSTRICHES 295 



rush with jointed stem and tuberous root, bean-pods 

 from different kinds of thorn-trees, and the leaves and 

 especially the seed-vessels of a bush, the seed-vessels 

 being enclosed in cases or pods so thorny that they 

 pinched our fingers, and made us wonder at the bird's 

 palate. Cock and hen brood the eggs alternately. We 

 found the heart and liver of the ostrich excellent eating ; 

 the eggs were very good also. As the cock died, it 

 uttered a kind of loud, long-drawn grunting boom that 

 was almost a roar. Its beautiful white wing plumes were 

 almost unworn. A full-grown wild ostrich is too wary 

 to fiill into the clutches of a lion or leopard, save by 

 accident, and it will master any of the lesser carnivora ; 

 but the chicks are preyed on by jackals and wild cats, 

 and of course by the larger beasts of prey also ; and the 

 eggs are eagerly sought by fiu'red and feathered foes 

 alike. Seemingly trustworthy settlers have assured me 

 that vultures break the tough shells with stones. The 

 cock and hen will try to draw their more formidable 

 foes away from the nest or the chicks by lingering so 

 near as to lure them in pursuit, and anything up to the 

 size of a hyena they will attack and drive away, or even 

 kill. The terrific downward stroke of an ostrich's leg is 

 as dangerous as the kick of a horse. The thump will 

 break a rib or backbone of any ordinary animal, and in 

 addition to the force of the blow itself, the big nails 

 may make a ghastly rip. Both cock and hen lead about 

 the young brood and care for it. The two ostriches I 

 shot were swarming with active parasitic flies, a little 

 like those that w^ere on the lions I shot in the Sotik. 

 Later the porters brought us in several ostrich chicks. 

 They also brought two genet kittens, which I tried to 

 raise, but failed. They were much like ordinary kittens, 

 with larger ears, sharper noses, and longer tails, and 



