222 FACULTIES OF BIRDS. 



running is the ostrich, or bird camel (Struthio Came- 

 lus), as it may well be named. " What time she 

 lifteth up herself on high," says Job, " she scorneth 

 the horse and his rider *." According to Dr. Shaw, 

 the wings serve her both for sails and oars, whilst 

 her feet, which have only two toes, and are not unlike 

 the camel's, can bear great fatigue. M. Montbeillard, 

 however, is of opinion that it does not spread its wings 

 and tail-feathers with the view of assisting its motion, 

 but from the common effect of the corresponding 

 muscles, as a man in swimming throws out his arms. 

 Though the ostrich is universally admitted to run 

 faster than the fleetest horse, yet the Arabs contrive 

 to run these birds down on horseback, their feathers 

 being valuable, and their flesh not to be despised. 

 The best and fleetest horses are trained for this chase. 

 When the hunter has started his game, he puts his 

 horse upon a gentle gallop, so as to keep the ostrich 

 in sight without coming too near to alarm it and put 

 it to its full speed. Upon observing itself pursued, 

 therefore, it begins to run at first but gently, its 

 wings like two arms keeping alternate motion with 

 its feet. It seldom runs in a direct line ; but, like 

 the hare, doubles, or rather courses in a circular 

 manner, while the hunters, taking the diameter or 

 tracing a smaller circle, meet the bird at unexpected 

 turns, arid with less fatigue to the horses. This chase 

 is often continued for a day or two, when the poor 

 ostrich is starved out and exhausted, and finding all 

 power of escape impossible, it endeavours to hide 

 itself from the enemies it cannot avoid, running into 

 some thicket, or burying its head in the sand : the 

 hunters then rush in at full speed, leading as much 

 as possible against the wind, and kill the bird witfy 

 clubs, lest the feathers should be soiled with blood. 



* Job xxxix. 18. 



