THE OSTRICH. 25 



Nests and eggs of the ostrich. 



Every time he turned his horse towards her, she 

 retreated ten or twelve paces ; but as soon as he 

 rode on again she pursued him, till he had got 

 to a considerable distance from the place where 

 he started her. 



The nest appears to be merely a hole in the 

 ground, formed by the birds trampling the earth 

 for some time with their feet. 



If any person touch the eggs during the ab- 

 sence of the parent, they immediately discover it 

 by the scent at their return ; and not only desist 

 from laying any more in the same place, but 

 even crush with their feet all those that have 

 been left. In taking part of their eggs away, 

 therefore, the negroes never touch any of them 

 with their hands, but always push them out of 

 the nest with a long stick. 



Mr. Barrow, to whom we are indebted for a 

 most excellent description of the, southern parts 

 of Africa, informs us, that the eggs of the ostrich 

 are there considered as a great delicacy. There 

 are various methods of cooking them, but that 

 adopted by the Hottentots is accounted the best. 

 This is simply to bury them in hot ashes ; and 

 through a hole maae in the upper end, to stir 

 the contents round till they acquire the consist- 

 ence of an omelet : prepared in this manner, he 

 says, he often found them an excellent repast in 

 the courle of his long journeys over the svilds of 

 Africa. These eggs are easily preserved for a 

 great length of time, even at sea j and without 



VOL. II. NO. XVI. D 



