THE OSTRICH. 49 



upon, although a single egg be a sufficient enter- 

 tainment for eight men. 



As the spoils of the ostrich are thus valuable, it 

 is hot to be wondered at that man has become 

 their most assiduous pursuer. For this purpose 

 the Arabians train up their best and fleetest horses, 

 and hunt the ostrich still in view. Perhaps, of all 

 other varieties of the chase, this, though the most 

 laborious, is yet the most entertaining. As soon as 

 the hunter comes within sight of his prey, he puts 

 on his horse with a gentle gallop, so as to keep the 

 ostrich still in sight, yet not so as to terrify him 

 from the plain into the mountains. Of all known 

 animals that make use of their legs in running, 

 the ostrich is by far the swiftest j upon ob- 

 serving himself therefore pursued at a distance, 

 he begins to run at first but gently, either insen- 

 sible of his danger, or sure of escaping. In this 

 situation he somewhat resembles a man at full 

 speed ; his wings, like two arms, keep working 

 with a motion correspondent to that of his legs ; 

 and his speed would very soon snatch him 

 from the view of his pursuers, but, unfortunately 

 for the silly creature, instead of going off in a 

 direct line, he takes his course in circles ; while 

 the hunters still make a small course within, re- 

 lieve each other, meet him at unexpected turns, 

 and keep him thus still employed, still followed, 

 for two or three days together. At last, spent 

 with fatigue and famine, and finding all power of 

 escape impossible, he endeavours to hide himself 

 from those enemies he cannot avoid, and covers 

 his head in the sand, or the first thicket he meets. 



VOL. IV. D 



