Of the Oftrich. 71 



foife of Body, they would play and frisk about, on all Occa- 

 fions. In the Heat of the Day particularly, they would ftrut 

 along the funny Side of theHoufe, with great Majefty. They 

 would be perpetually fanning and priding themfelves with 

 their quhering-expanded Wings \ and feem, at every Turn, to 

 admire and to be in Love with their Shadows. Even, at other 

 Times, whether walking about or refting themfelves upon the 

 Ground, their Wings w ould continue thefe fanning-vibrating 

 Motions, as if they were defigned to mitigate and affwage 

 that extraordinary Heat, wherewith their Bodies feem to be 

 afFe6ted. 



Thefe Birds, notwithftanding they appeared tame and tra6la-The opuh 

 ble to fuch Perfons as were more familiar to them, yet they cSous. 

 were often very rude and fierce to Strangers ; whom they 

 would not only endeavour to pufli down, by running furioufly 

 upon them ; but would not ceafe to peck at them violently 

 with their Bills, and to ftrike at them with their Feet, when 

 they had them at an Advantage : by which Means they were 

 frequently very mifchievous. For the inward Claw or Hoof 

 rather, as w^e may call it, of this A'liis hifulcay being exceed- 

 ingly ftrong and angular, I once faw an unfortunate Perfon who 

 had his Belly ripped open, by one of thefe Stroaks. Whilft 

 they are engaged in thefe Combats, they fometimes make a 

 fierce hiffing Noife, with their Throats inflated and their 

 Mouths open ; at other Times, they have a chuckling or cack- 

 ling Voice, as in the Poultry-Kind ; whereby they feem to re- 

 joice and triumph, as it were, in having gained fome Advan- 

 tage over their Adverfary. 



During the Night Seafon, (as if their Organs of Voice hadThedoiefui 

 now attained a quite different Tone,) they frequently made a made by the 

 very doleful and hideous Noife ; which would fometimes be 

 like the Roaring of a Lion ; at other Times it would bear a 

 nearer Refemblance to the hoarfer Voices of other Quadrupeds ; 

 particularly of the Bull and the Ox. I have often heard them 

 groan, as if they were in the greateft Agonies; an Adlion 

 which feems to be beautifully alluded to, by the Prophet Micah 

 (i. 8.) where it is faid, / will make a monrnhig like the 

 Oftrich. 



S X yaanah 



