Of the Oftrich. 69 



ilder this large Colleaion of Eggs, as if they were all intended 

 for a Brood. They are, the greateft Part of them, referved 

 for Food; which the Dam breaks and difpofes of, according 

 to the Number and the Cravings of her young ones. 



But yet, for all this, a very little Share of that v>^yyi or n^tumX JJ^^^fjl'^^ 

 Affedion, which fo ftrongly exerts itfelf in moft other Crea-^;;'J°'"s 

 tures, is obfervable in the Oftrich. For, upon the leaft diftant 

 Noife or trivial Occafion, flie forlakes her Neft, or her young 

 Ones ; to which perhaps ilie never returns ; or if fhe does, it 

 may be too late, either to reftore Life to the one, or to pre- 

 ferve the Lives of the other. Agreeably to this Account, the 

 y^rahs meet fometimes with whole Nefts of thefe Eggs, un- 

 difturbed ; fome of which are fweet and good, others addle 

 and corrupted ; others again, with young Ones in them of dif- 

 ferent Growths, according to the Time, it may be prefumed, 

 they have been forfaken by the Dam. They oftner meet a 

 few of the little Ones, no bigger than well-grown Pullets ; half 

 ftarved ; ftraggling and moaning about, like fo many diftrelTed 

 Orphans, for their Mother. And in this Manner the Oftrich 

 may be faid, (v. i5.) to he hardened again ft her jyoung ones, as 

 though they were not hers ; her Labour (in hatching and at- 

 tending them fo far,) being in ^ain, without Fear or the leaft 

 Concern of what becomes of them afterwards. 



Neither is this the only Reproach that may be due to the ■J^.tdc'l^'li 

 Oftrich ; She is likewife inconfiderate and foolifh, in her pri-S p^jd"'" 

 vate Capacity ; particularly in the Choice of Food, which is 

 frequently highly detrimental and pernicious to it. For fhe 

 fwallows every Thing greedily and indifcriminately ; whether 

 it be Rags, Leather, Wood, Stone or Iron. I faw one of thefe 

 Birds, at Oran, that fwallowed, without any feeming Uneali- 

 nefs or Inconveniency, feveral leaden Bullets, as they were 

 thrown, upon the Floor, fcorching hot from the Mould. They 

 are particularly fond of their own Excrements, which they eat 

 up, as foon as they are voided . No lefs fond are they of the 

 Dung of Hens and other Poultry. It feems, as if their optic 

 as well as olfaClory Nerves were lefs ad^equate and conducive 

 to their Safety and Prefervation, than in moft other Creatures. 

 The Divine Trovidence in this, no lefs than in other RefpecSts, 



S (V.17J 



