Chav.XXXV.] southern AFRICA. 311 



malia. The male bird often measures nine feet at 

 the crown of the head, and exceeds three hundred 

 pounds in weight — the thigh being equal in size to 

 the largest leg of mutton. Excepting the costly 

 w^hite plumes, so prized by the fair sex, and which 

 are chiefly obtained from the wing, instead of from 

 the tail, as generally imagined, the colour of the 

 body is the deepest black in the male bird, and in 

 the female a dingy brown. While running, the 

 wings are raised above the back, and the clatter of 

 the feet, which are only provided with two toes, 

 resembles that made by a horse in trotting, pebbles 

 of considerable size being cast behind them. The 

 usual cry of the ostrich is a short roar, but when 

 brought to bay, it hisses like the gander. The 

 Bechuana, with what truth I know not^ are said 

 occasionally to domesticate this stately bird for eques- 

 trian purposes ; and the puny Bushman avails himself 

 of the disguise aflbrded by its skin, to mix with a 

 troop of wild animals, and select his victim. At 

 the twang of his tiny bow, away scours the herd in 

 dire consternation, and more alarmed than all, off 

 scuds the impostor with them, again propelhng a 

 shaft as soon as the panic has subsided. The 

 destruction committed in this manner is incredible 

 — a slender reed, only slightly barbed with bone or 

 iron, but imbued with a subtile poison, and launched 

 with unerring dexterity, being sufficient to destroy 

 the most powerful animal. 



The principal ingredient of this deadly bane is 

 said by Pringle to consist of the venom of the most 



