230 THE OSTRICH. 



speed; nevertheless, these repeated races fatigue it 

 insensibly, and when the sun becomes more powerful, 

 the animal, which has already several times renewed 

 the same plan, begins to exhibit signs of fatigue; 

 and then the hunters, who have hitherto restrained 

 their steeds, rush after it with full speed, and are not 

 long in exhausting and overcoming it. The first of 

 the hunters that arrives within reach of it deals it 

 a heavy blow with a club, and fells it to the ground. 

 The riders leap from their horses, and one of them 

 cuts the animal's neck, and puts its foot in the 

 wound in order to prevent its plumes being soiled 

 in the blood whilst it is fluttering about. When the 

 bird has ceased to live they despoil it of its plumage, 

 and if the horses and provisions permit, the chase is 

 continued." 



The same method appears to be in use at the 

 Cape, as Sparrman relates : " I have been told that 

 a man mounted on the best horse could never reach 

 the ostriches when they are off; but the hunter 

 must nevertheless continue his chase, taking care to 

 look after his horse, and prevent him from galloping 

 too fast, whilst he can still perceive the bird from 

 the summit of some hill. Then the ostrich, which 

 has descended it running, cools down when it reaches 

 the bottom, its joints stiffen, and it rarely fails, 

 by at least the third race, in allowing itself to 



