t^ EXTRAORDINARr BIRDS. 



fmaller feathers than thofe on the belly and back; and of different colotiTs^ 

 All thefe feathers are of the fannc kind, peculiar to the oftrich ; as foft as 

 down, utterly unfit for flying or defence. The feathers of other birds have 

 the webs broader on one fide than the other, but thofe of the oftrich have 

 their fiiaft exadly in the middle. The upper part of the head and neck 

 are covered with very fine clear white hair, that fhines like the briftles of 

 a hog ; and in fome places there are fmall tufts of it> confifting of about 

 twelve hairs, which grow from a fmgle Ihaft, about the thicknefs of a pin.- 

 At the end of each wing, there is a kind of fpur almoft: like the quill of a 

 porcupine; an inch long^^ hollow and horny. There are two of thefe on 

 each wing; the largeft at the extremity of the bone of the wing, the other 

 a foot lower. The neck feems more flcnder by being void of feathers. 

 The flcin is of a livid flefh colour ; the orifice of the ears bare, but a little 

 hair within it. The bill is fliort and pointed, and two inches and an half 

 at the beginning. In form^ the eye is fomewhat like the human, the up- 

 per eye-lid immovable, having eye-laihes ; the tongue is fmall, very 

 ihort; in feme about an inch long, and very thick at the bottom. 

 In others half an inch, and a little forked at the end. The thighs are 

 very flefhy and large, covered with a white fkin, inclining to rednefs,- 

 and wrinkled' in the manner of a net, whole mefhes will admit the end of 

 a finger. Some have very fmall feathers here and there on the thighs; 

 and others neither feathers nor wrinkles. The legs are covered in front 

 with large fcales; the foot has two very large toes, covered with fcales* 

 The largeft, on the infide, is feven inches long, including the claw, 

 which is near three-fourths of an inch in lengthy and almoft as broad. The 

 other toe, four inches long, has no claw. 



The internal parts are no lefs furprifingly peculiar. On the breaft,- under 

 the (kin, the fat is two inches thick ; on the fore-part of the belly, thicker,- 

 and as hard as fuet in fome places. It has two ftomachs : The firft, which 

 is lowermoft, fomewhat refembles the crop in other birds ; is confiderably 

 larger than the other, and furniftied with ftrong mnfcular fibres, as well 

 circular as longitudinal. The fecond ftomach, or gizzard, is always filled 

 with a variety of difcordant fubftanees ; hay, grafs, barley, beans, bonesy 

 ftones.- The kidneys are not, as in other birds, dividbd into lobes. The 

 heart and lungs are feparated by a midriff, as in quadrupeds ; and other 

 parts bear ftrong refemblance. 



Native of the torrid regions of Africa, never known to breed out 

 of that country, formed to live in fands and deferts, where few vege- 

 tables clothe the earth, and where rain is unki. iwn. Here oftriches are 



fcert 



