404 THE OSTRICH AXD THE CASSOWARY 



to come deeper from the chest than that of the ostrich. Has 

 this similitude of voice never been noticed in the Zoological 

 Gardens ? 



It is difficult to ascertain what the tastes of the ostrich may 

 be while roaming the desert, but when in captivity no other 

 bird or animal shows less nicety in the choice of its food, gob- 

 bling down with avidity stones, pieces of wood and iron, spoons, 

 knives, and other articles of equally light digestion that may be 

 presented to it. Thus it has always been far-famed for the 

 wonderful powers of its stomach, and many amusing anecdotes 

 are told of its voracity. 



A batch of these birds having once been brought to a small 

 town, for the inspection of the curious, a respectable matron, 

 anxious to obtain a sight of the strange creatures, hastily shut 

 up her house, and, key in hand, hurried to the spot where they 

 were kept. Scarcely had she arrived, when one of them gravely 

 stalked up, as if to thank her for her visit, and suddenly bending 

 its long neck, to her horror, snatched the key out of her hand, 

 and swallowed it in a trice; so that the indignant old lady — 

 thus shut out of her own house — vowed that if all the beasts 

 of Africa were to pass her door, she would not so much as open 

 it to look at them. 



"Nothing," says Methuen, speaking of a domesticated ostrich, 

 " disturbed its digestion — dyspepsia (happy thing) was undreamt 

 of in its philosophy. One day a Muscovy-duck brought a 

 promising race of ducklings into the world, and with maternal 

 pride conducted them forth into the yard. Up with solemn and 

 measured stride walked the ostrich, and, wearing the most mild 

 and benignant cast of face, swallowed them all, one after the 

 other, like so many oysters, regarding the indignant hissings and 

 bristling plumage of the hapless mother with stoical indif- 

 ference." 



Baron Aucapitaine, to whom we owe an interesting account 

 of the ostrich, relates that he every evening used to regale a 

 tame ostrich with a newspaper, which the bird completely 

 swallowed, thus literally stuffing itself with all the knowledge 

 of the day. 



The costly white plumes of the ostrich, which are chiefly 

 obtained from the wings, form a considerable article of commerce, 

 liaving been prized in all ages for the elegance of their long, 



