OSTRICHES WARY. 397 



very close and sultry, and the sand on the road exceed- 

 ingly heavy. 



To the left, on a large open space, which until lately 

 had been a large vley of water, a number of ostriches 

 were feeding, but at such a distance that I did not (Jeem 

 it expedient to disturb them, more especially as there 

 was no cover in the vicinity to assist me in a stalk. 



Ostriches are so wary, and their long necks give 

 them such a control of distance, that without shelter it 

 is perfectly useless to try and get within a range in 

 which there is a probability of doing execution. 



