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THE OSTRICH. 



This singular bird, whose elegant plumage is so often 

 a part of female attire, is used in some measure to connect 

 the class of quadrupeds and birds. In its general figure, it 

 has some resemblance to the camel, and is almost as tall ; 

 it is covered with a plumage more nearly resembling hair 

 than feathers ; and even its internal parts bear as great 

 a similitude to those of the quadruped as of the bird. 



The Ostrich is certainly the largest of all birds, appear- 

 ing nearly as high as a man on horseback. It is usually 

 seven feet from the top of its head to the ground, but from 

 the back it is only four ; consequently, the head and neck 

 are above three feet long. From the top of the head to 

 the rump, when the neck is extended in a right line, it is 

 six feet long, and the tail is about one foot more. 



The plumage of the ostrich is generally a mixture of 

 black and white, though in some varieties it is observed to 

 be grey. The largest feathers, which are situated at the 

 extremity of the tail and wings, are commonly white ; the 

 next row is black and white j and of the small feathers on 

 the back and belly, some partake of both colours. There 

 are no feathers either on the sides, the thighs, or under the 

 wings : the lower part of the neck is covered with still 

 smaller plumage than the belly and back. All the feathers 

 are of a kind peculiar to the ostrich, soft as down, abso- 

 lutely unfit to help the animal in flight, and still less 

 adapted for defence against external injury. 



Again, the upper parts of the head and neck are covered 

 with a very fine clear white hair, shining like the bristles 

 of a hog ; and, in several places, are tufts of the same 

 nature, consisting of about twelve hairs, all issuing from a 

 single shaft. From the extremity of each wing is a kind 

 of spur, resembling the quill of a porcupine. The legs are 

 covered with scales, and the bill is short and pointed. 



The ostrich inhabits the sandy deserts of Asia and 

 Africa. They often assemble in great flocks, and commit 

 terrible havoc among the corn-fields in the interior of the 

 country, about the Cape of Good Hope ; where, as well as 

 in the neighbouring islands, they are very numerous. 



It was commonly believed that the female ostrich left 

 her eggs to be hatched by the heat of the sun, and took no 

 notice of her young ; but recent observation has proved 

 the contrary. Each male is united to from two to five 



