THE OSTRICH. 213 



least for long periods of time. In a word, in tins 

 matter our formulas have but the value of means. 



Ostriches support thirst perfectly, but nothing is 

 more false than to say that they never drink. 



The Arabs say that they drink a little every day 

 when there is any water to be had. Messieurs 

 Verreaux have seen them drinking in the Elephant 

 River. 



General Daumas reports that he has known them 

 make many days' journey in search of water. It 

 is said that those which have been deprived of 

 water for a long time show extraordinary joy at the 

 approach of a storm. They are then seen running 

 about in every direction, with their wings extended, 

 turning themselves about, and at last rushing off in 

 the direction of the lightning. 



They bathe, always taking care to choose water 

 sufficiently shallow, so that when they sit down their 

 heads may still be above water ; but they cannot 

 swim. An English traveller in South Africa, Mr. 

 Gordon Gumming, says that they are exceedingly 

 fond of salt. Barley is the food which those seem 

 to prefer which the Arabs do not send out into the 

 pasture fields. 



