THE OSTRICH. 137 



broad and short feathers, of a deep black, intermingled 

 with a few others, which are nearly white, and are barely 

 visible, except when the plumage is ruffled. In the female 

 the general color of the feathers is of a grayish, or ashy- 

 brown, slightly fringed with white. In both sexes the 

 large plumes of the wings and tail are beautifully white. 

 The bill is of the color of horn, becoming blackish towards 

 the point. The iris is deep hazel. On the head and neck 

 the hairy down is clear white. In the young bird, these 

 parts, as well as the muscles of the legs, are covered like 

 the rest of the body, with ash-colored feathers, which fall 

 off after the first year, and are not again produced. 



The character of the Ostrich, like that of other granivo- 

 rous birds, is extremely mild. It never makes use of its 

 great muscular power to attack, and rarely even in its own 

 defence. It generally has recourse to flight, as its most 

 effectual security against danger ; and were ils intelligence 

 equal to its velocity, this resource would seldom fail of 

 success. The chase of these birds is accounted one of the 

 most skilful and difficult exercises, both for the Arab and 

 his horse, requiring at once the most unwearied patience, 

 and the most reckless impetuosity. The former is abso- 

 lutely necessary, in order to keep them within sight, and 

 to watch their motions as they wheel round in a circle of 

 greater or less extent, and the latter to seize the favorable 

 opportunity of dashing down upon them in their course, 

 and disabling them, which is generally effected by means 

 of a stick thrown with dexterity between their legs. A 

 chase of this kind will frequently last from eight to ten 

 hours. When taken, they evince no ill humor ; and after 

 a time become in some degree docile, suffering themselves 

 to be mounted and ridden like horses. M. Adanson, who 

 had several times witnessed the spectacle in Senegal, de- 

 clares, that even when mounted by two men, they outstrip- 

 ped in speed an excellent English horse. In running they 

 always expand their wings, not, as has been erroneously 



