88 OSTRICHES. CASSOWARIES. 



nate the foot, the external one is but half the length of the other, 

 and without a nail. 



It. This bird lives in numerous troops on the sandy deserts 

 of Africa and Arabia ; it is essentially herbivorous, but it is so 

 voracious that it indiscriminately devours everything that falls 

 within its reach until its stomach is filled ; it even swallows 

 stones, fragments of metal, pieces of wood, and animal as well 

 as the vegetable substances upon which it feeds ; the strength of 

 its stomach is enormous. It can run more rapidly than the 

 fleetest horse. The strength of this aqjinal is astonishing ; an 

 Ostrich with two men on its back has been known to run faster 

 than an excellent English courser. 



12. The eggs of the Ostrich weigh nearly three pounds each ; 

 in those countries which are not very warm, the female, and 

 even the male sits upon them ; but on the burning deserts near the 

 equator, they 'leave them in the sand, exposed to the heat of the 

 sun. The period of incubation seems to be about six weeks, 

 and the young are feathered when born and able to run at once. 



13. The broad flexible feathers of the wings and tail of the 

 African Ostrich are much prized as ornaments. 



14. The American, or Three-toed Ostrich, Struthio rhea, 

 is more than one half smaller than that of the eastern continent ; 

 its plumage is grayish, and the feathers are scarcely of any value. 

 It abounds in Buenos Ayres. 



15. The CASSOWARIES, Casuarius, are recognised at first 

 sight by the feathers, the barbs of which being so lightly fringed 

 that at a distance they resemble pendent hairs ; their wings are 

 even shorter than those ef the Ostrich, and are totally useless 

 even in running. 



16 Two' species are known, namely; the Emeu, or crested 

 Cassowary, and the Cassowary of New Holland. 



17. The Emeu , or Crested Cassowary, Strnthio casuarins, 

 is almost as large as the Ostrich of the eastern continent, but 

 not so tall ; it is remarkable on account of the azure blue and 

 red skin that covers the head and part of the neck ; for its pen- 

 dent caruncles like those of a Turkey, and for a sort of helmet 

 or crest, formed by a bony prominence, covered with horn, which 



11. What are the habits of the Ostrich of the old world ? 



12. What is the size of the eggs of the Ostrich ? 



33. The feathers of whit part of the Ostrich are used for ornament? 



14. How does the American Ostrich differ from the Ostrich of the old 

 world ? 



15. How are the Cassowaries recognised ? 



16. What species of Cassowary are known ? 



17. What are the characters of the Emeu ? 



