THE OSTRICH. 



The plumage is that which causes the ostrich to be 

 the most highly esteemed. It is almost every where 

 considered as an elegant article of personal decora- 

 tion. In most of the species its colour is a mixture of 

 black and white, but in some it is said to be grey. 

 The feathers of the tail and wings are held in such 

 high estimation, as to constitute, in some countries, 

 no inconsiderable article of commerce ; and the bird 

 is hunted merely for their sake. All the other parts 

 of its body and thighs are bare, the latter are ex- 

 tremely large and fleshy : the legs are covered with 

 large scales : the end of the foot is cloven, and has 

 two very large toes, one near seven, and the other 

 about four inches long. 



This bird has been erroneously represented as de- 

 void of natural aftection; but far from leaving its eggs 

 to be hatched by the sun, as it has often been assert- 

 ed, it never remains long absent from them ; and in a 

 country where the heat is so iritense, constant incuba- 

 tion is unnecessary. The young ones for some days 

 after they are hatched, can neither walk nor stand, 

 and during that period of helplessness, the old ones 

 attend them with the most anxious solicitude. The 

 eggs of this bird generally weigh from twelve to fif- 

 teen pounds. 



The Arabs train up their fleetest horses for the pur- 

 pose of hunting the ostrich, which, although a very la- 

 borious, is esteemed a very entertaining amusement. 

 Of all creatures, the ostrich is certainly that which runs 

 with the greatest speed, its wings, as well as its legs, 

 keeping in motion, serve as oars to waft it along; and 

 did it press forward in a direct line, instead of a circular 

 course, it would undoubtedly bid defiance to every 

 mode of pursuit. In order to take them with less 

 trouble, another method has sometimes been used, 

 which is both singular and curious. A person having 

 clothed^ himself with the skin of an ostrich, and put- 

 ting one of his arms through the neck, has imitated 

 all the motions of that bird, so as to approach a flock 

 of these creature?, and catch some of them without 

 difficulty. 



