BIRDS. 



427 



First and foremost come the true ostriches of Africa, the largest of 

 living birds. Of these there are probably three or four species, including 

 a doubtful form which occurs far to the north of its relatives in the Syrian 



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Fig. 366. — African ostrich (Struthio camclus). 



desert. All are much alike in their appearance and habits, and our figure,, 

 for all practical purposes, will answer for all. In reality it represents the 

 best-known species, which is distributed over almost the whole of the 



