.OSTRICH. 197 



their cautious policy to avoid danger, by feeding only on 

 spacious plains, where they can command a distant view 

 of the approach of their enemies. 



As there are but few places where bustards can at once 

 find food and security, they generally continue near their 

 old haunts. They are capable of great abstinence from 

 drink ; but, as a security against drought, nature has fur- 

 nished the male with a pouch, the entrance of which lies 

 immediately under the tongue, and which is said to be ca- 

 pable of containing seven quarts of water. This is occa- 

 sionally filled, either to supply the female during the 

 season of incubation, or the young till they are capable of 

 providing for themselves. 



The female lays two eggs, in a slight hole made in the 

 earth, sometimes lined with a little hay or straw. She sits 

 about five weeks, and her young are able to run about in 

 the instant of their liberation from the shell. 



The bustard seems incapable of being bred in a domes- 

 tic state, which perhaps arises from the difficulty of sup- 

 plying it with a sufficiency of its favourite food. Among 

 the various species of this bird to be found in foreign 

 countries are the Arabian, the Indian, and the little bus- 

 tard; the last of these was formerly a native of this 

 kingdom, and is now common in France. 



THE OSTRICH. 



This singular bird, whose elegant plumage is so often 

 used in the attire of our most fashionable ladies, appears, 

 in some measure, to connect the class of quadrupeds and 

 birds. In its general figure it has some resemblance to 

 the camel, and is almost as tall ; it is covered with a plu- 

 mage more nearly resembling hair than feathers, and even 

 its internal parts bear as great a similitude to those of the 

 quadruped as of the bird. 



The ostrich is certainly the largest of all birds, appear- 

 ing nearly as high as a man on horseback. It is usually 

 seven feet from the top of its head to the ground, but 

 from the back it is only four; consequently the head and 

 K 3 



