386 GRALLATORES, OR WADING BIRDS. 



sufficiently near to prevent them taking food during the time. 

 When they have thus starved and wearied the birds, they pursue 

 them at full speed, taking advantage of the fact which observa- 

 tion has taught them, that the Ostrich never runs in a straight 

 line, but describes a curve of greater or less extent. Availing 

 themselves of this habit, the horsemen follow the chord of this 

 arc, and repeating the stratagem several times, they gradually 

 get within reach, when, making a final dash, they rush im- 

 petuously on the harassed birds, and beat them down with their 

 clubs, avoiding as much as possible shedding their blood, as this 

 depreciates the value of the feathers, which are the chief induce- 

 ment for their chase. 



Some tribes attain their object by a rather singular artifice. 

 The hunter covers himself with an Ostrich's skin, passing his 

 arm up the neck of the bird so as to render the movements more 

 natural. Ey the aid of this disguise, if skilfully managed, 

 Ostriches can be approached sufficiently near to kill them. 



The Arabs also hunt the Ostrich with dogs, which pursue it 

 until it is completely worn out. In the breeding season, having 

 sought and found out where the Ostriches lay their eggs, 

 another artifice is to dig a hole within gunshot of the spot, in 

 which a man, armed with a gun, can hide himself. The concealed 

 enemy easily kills the male and female birds in turn as they sit on 

 their nest. Lastly, to lie in wait for them close by water, and shoot 

 them when they come to quench their thirst, is often successful. 



The Ostrich, which is an eminently sociable bird, may some- 

 times be seen in the desert in flocks of two or three hundred, 

 mixed up with droves of Zebras, Quaggas, &c. They pair about 

 the end of autumn. 



The nest of the Ostrich is more than three feet in diameter ; 

 it is only a hole dug in the sand, and surrounded by a kind of 

 rampart composed of the debris ; a trench is scratched round it 

 outside to drain off the water. Each hen bird lays from fifteen 

 to twenty eggs, according to circumstances. The eggs weigh 

 from two to three pounds, and are each of them equal in contents 

 to about twenty-five Hen's eggs. They are of a tolerable flavour, 

 and are often a very seasonable help to travellers, one of them being 

 more than sufficient for the breakfast of two or three persons. 



