OSTRICHES. 439 



but depended upon its swiftness in running 1 to escape 

 from the attacks of enemies : and as its name " Stru- 

 thio Camelus " denotes, it was generally regarded as a 

 species of camel. Indeed, a camel standing among 

 bushes in the distance often looks exceedingly like a 

 gigantic ostrich. The peculiar habits, and apparent 

 neglect of its nest and young, together with the extra- 

 ordinary swiftness of foot displayed by the ostrich when 

 pursued by horsemen, are all found faithfully described 

 in the Bible in the following passage: 



" Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks, or the 

 wings and feathers unto the ostrich which leaveth her eggs 

 in the earth, and warmeth them in the dust, and forgetteth 

 that the foot may crush them, or that the wild beast may 

 break them. She is hardened against her young ones, as 

 though they were not hers: her labour is in vain without 

 fear. Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither 

 hath He imparted to her understanding. What time she 

 lifteth herself on high, she scorneth the horse and his 

 rider."* 



The rearing of these great birds, in a domestic state* 

 like cattle, for the production of ostrich plumes, has of 

 late become quite an extensive branch of industry, and 

 their nature and habits are fully described in books 

 on ostrich farming. The industry has, however, been 

 somewhat overdone recently, so that the profits of the 

 business have become rather precarious. 



The ostrich, however, in its wild state still roams 

 over an immense extent of wild country; and though 

 like other kinds of great game they are gradually 

 being drawn further and further into the heart of the 



* Job xxxix., verses 13 to 18 inclusive. 



