1 84 



LIVING CREATURES. 



plucked at six months of age, and about every six or 

 nine months thereafter. The feathers of a grown bird, 

 at a single -plucking, have been sold for a hundred and 

 fifty dollars. 



When Rome was at the height of her luxury a dish 

 of ostrich's brains was considered a great treat. A 

 gluttonous and cruel emperor had as many as six hun- 

 dred ostriches killed to make one meal of brains. 



^gVo-^ 



South African Ostriches. 



"A traveler was once staying in a village where 

 there were two tame ostriches. Two little boys used 

 to mount on their backs, and have a ride. The os- 

 triches would run round and round the village, and 

 never seem inclined to stop. At first their pace was a 

 trot ; but by degrees they expanded their wings and ran 

 very fast indeed, scarcely seeming to touch the ground. 

 No race-horse could have 'kept up with them, though 

 the ostriches would have got tired much the soonest." 



