110 STORIES ABOUT BIRDS. 



his speed would very soon snatch him from the 

 view of his pursuers; but, unfortunately for 

 the silly creature, instead of going off in a di- 

 rect line, he takes his course in circles; while 

 the hunters still make a small course within, re- 

 lieve each other, me-et him at unexpected turns, 

 and keep him thus still employed, still fol- 

 lowed, for two or three days together. At last, 

 spent with fatigue and famine, and finding es- 

 cape impossible, he endeavors to hide himself 

 from those enemies he cannot avoid, and covers 

 his head in the sand, or the first thicket he 

 meets. Sometimes, however, he attempts to 

 face his pursuers; and, though in general the 

 most gentle animal in nature, when driven to 

 desperation, he defends himself with his bealc, 

 his wings, and his feet. Such is the force of 

 his motion, that a man would be utterly unable 

 to withstand him in the shock. 



They are often ridden upon, and used like 

 horses. Moore assures us, that at Joar he saw 

 a man traveling upon an ostrich. There is a 

 French factory at Podare, a small town on the 

 southern bank of the river Niger, where, some 

 years ago, a Frenchman saw two ostriches who 

 belonged to some one connected with the fac- 

 tory. They were so tame that they allowed 

 children to mount their backs. Two children 



