28 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Swiftness of the ostrich. 



seemed to touch the ground. Most people have, 

 one time or other, seen a partridge run; and 

 consequently must know that no man is able to 

 keep up with it: and it is easy to imagine, that 

 if this bird had a longer step, its speed would be 

 considerably augmented. The ostrich moves 

 like the partridge, with this advantage; and I am 

 satisfied that those I am speaking of would have 

 distanced the fleetest race-horses that were ever 

 bred in England. It is true, they would not 

 hold out so long as a horse ; but they would un- 

 doubtedly be able to go over the space in lesg 

 time. I have frequently beheld this sight; which 

 is capable of giving one an idea of the prodigi- 

 ous strength of an ostrich, and of showing what 

 use it might be of, had we but the method of 

 breaking and managing it as we do a horse." 



In a tame state, these birds may be frequently 

 seen playing and frisking about with the utmost 

 vivacity : and in the heat of the day they are parti- 

 cularly fond of strutting along the sunny side of 

 a house, fanning themselves with their expanded 

 wings, and seeming at every turn to admire and 

 be enamoured of their own shadows. In hot 

 climates, indeed, their wings are almost continu- 

 ally in a kind of vibrating or quivering motion, 

 as if designed to assuage the heat. 



To persons acquainted with them they are 

 tractable and familiar, but are often fierce towards 

 strangers, frequently attempting to push them 

 down, by running furiously upon them ; and on 



