BIRDS 



383 



(b) Struthioniformes. Ostriches, the largest of exist- Ostriches 

 ing birds, though not so large as the Dinornis 

 maximus or moa 

 of New Zealand, 

 which became ex- 

 tinct since man in- 

 habited that coun- 

 try. The ostrich, 

 of which there are 

 several distinct 

 races or species, 

 inhabits the drier 

 parts of Africa and 

 Arabia, but was 

 formerly more 

 widely distributed 

 in Asia. As every 

 one knows, the 

 wings are unsuited 

 for flight, while the 

 legs are long and 

 powerful, enabling 

 the birds to run 

 at a speed of 60 

 miles an hour, 

 though this cannot 

 be maintained for 

 long. On account 

 of the valuable 

 plumes, ostriches 

 are domesticated, 

 not only in Africa, 

 but also in Arizona 



and California. FIG. 155. Emeu and young. 



FIG. 154. 



From Zittel's " Palaontologie ''' 

 A moa (Dinornis), restored, 

 and three kiwis. 



