t H E O S T R I C H, &c. 133 



feen in large flocks, which, tcf the diftant fpecbator, appear like a regiaient 

 of cavalry. 



Theoilrich is, of all animalsjthemofl voracious; devours any thingthatis 

 given, and digefts all that is digeftible; what the ftomach cannot foften,paires 

 ■whole. In tlieir native dcferts they live chiefly on vegetables, inoflfcnfive 

 and fecial, the male, as Thevenot affurcs us, aflbrting with the female with 

 connubial fidelity* Lay very large eggs, fome above five inches in 

 diameter, and weighing five pounds, having a very hard fhell. In the 

 northern parts of Africa, about the beginning of July ; in the fouth, 

 about the latter end of December. Are very prolific ; lay thirty to forty 

 eggs at once; In thofe hot climates, there is no nccefllty for continual in- 

 cubation; and the female frequently leaves her eggs by day, but broods 

 over them by night; yet probably this varies with the temperature of the 

 air, &Ci In temperate climates the young are unable to walk for feveral 

 days after they are hatched. During this time^ the old Ones are very af- 

 fiduous in fupplying and defending them j when brought forth, they are 

 alh-coloured the firft year, and covered with feathers all oven 



Sortie favage nations of Africa hunt them for their flefh, or breed 

 them tame to eat the young ones, hence called Struthophagi, orOftrich- 

 eaters. The eggs are faid to be wcll-tafted, and extremely nouriihing; 

 and a fingle egg fufficient for eight men. 



Of all known animals that ufe their legs in ruiining, the ollrich is by 

 far the fwifteft: when purfued at a diftance, he begins to run at firft but 

 gently; his wings, like two arms, working with a motion correfpondent 

 to that of his legs; hisfpeed would very foon fnatch him from the view 

 of his purfuers i but, inftead of going off^ ^n a dired: line, he takes his 

 courfe in circles; the hunters making a fmall courfe within, relieve each 

 other, and keep him thus employed^ two or three days together, till fpent 

 with fatigue and famine. Sometimes he defends himfelfwith his beak, his 

 wings, and his feet: Such is the force of his motion, that a man would be 

 utterly unable to withftand him in the Ihock. 



THE TOUYOU 



IS chiefly found in Guiana, along the banks of the OroonokOj in the 

 inland provinces of I^rafil and Chili^ and the vaft forefts that border 

 on the mouthof the rivsr /lataj though not fo large as the oftrich, is only 



Z 2 fecond 



