THE ANIMAL KINGDOM- 



103 



are distinguished by their strong legs and by the smallness 

 of their wings, which are wholly unfitted for flying, and in 

 some of the species are almost absent altogether. They 

 consist of two families, which are represented by the 

 Ostrich and the Apteryx. 

 The Ostrich has wings, which, although of no use 



THE AFRICAN OSTRICH. 



for flying, are still of assistance in walking, for they are 

 covered with those beautiful plumes called "ostrich- 

 feathers," which strike against the wind, and serve to 

 propel the bird. The African Ostrich has only two toes, 

 the outer one of which is but half the length of the 

 other. The feet, like those of the Camel, are peculiarly 

 adapted for running on the sandy deserts of Arabia and 

 the interior of Africa ; and it is said that this bird is 



