236 THE OSTRICH. 



body of the bird, to which is added a head and 

 neck of an ostrich stuffed with straw. 



" The hunter begins by painting his legs white ; 

 then he places the saddle of feathers on his shoul- 

 ders, and holding with his right hand the lower part 

 of the neck, in his left he carries his bow and poi- 

 soned arrows. 'I have seen,' says our author, 'the 

 ostrich so perfectly imitated, that at a few yards' 

 distance it was impossible to discover the fraud.' 



"This human bird pretends to browse the grass, 

 turns his head from side to side with an air of 

 intelligence, shakes his feathers, walks and runs 

 alternately, until he arrives within bow- shot of the 

 flock ; and when the ostriches take flight on seeing one 

 of their number struck by an arrow, he flies with 

 them. Sometimes the male ostriches give chase to 

 this singular bird ; then he manoeuvres to avoid 

 them, taking care that they shall not scent him, 

 for from the moment he finds himself - so placed as 

 to cross their scent, the charm is broken ; then it 

 only remains for him to throw away his saddle 

 and to fly with all speed, in order to avoid a wing 

 blow, which would knock him down instantly.*' 



