414 NATURAL HISTORY OF ARABIA. 



present it is held unlawful to kill them in all hot countries 

 which they frequent. 



Tke Ostrich. — Ostriches (called by the Arabs Naamah and 

 TJiar es Jemmel, or the camel-bird) are to be met with in the 

 deserts ; the Bedouins, however, do not tame them when 

 young, nor take the trouble of hunting them. Burckhardt 

 saw two in Wady Tyh ; but on a shot being fired, they were 

 out of sight in an instant. They chiefly inhabit the plains 

 towards Gebel Shammar and Nejed. When full grown, the 

 neck, particularly of the male, is covered with beautiful red 

 feathers. The plumage upon the shoulders, back, and some 

 parts of the wings, from being of a dark grayish colour, be- 

 comes black as jet ; while the tail and the rest of the feathers 

 are of an exquisite whiteness. The belly, thighs, and breast 

 do not partake of this covering, being usually naked. The 

 female is of a spotted gray colour. Under the joint of the 

 great pinion, and sometimes \ipon the smaller, there is a 

 strong pointed excrescence like a cock's spur, with which, 

 according to certain naturalists, it stimulates itself when 

 pursued. In speed it outstrips the fleetest horse, being 

 assisted by the quick vibratory motion of its wings. lu 

 feeding it is voracious, devouring every thing indiscrimin- 

 ately, insects, reptiles, leather, rags, wood, stones, and even 

 iron. Shaw says he saw one swallow, without any apparent 

 uneasiness, several leaden bullets as they were thrown upon 

 the floor scorching hot from the mould ; a proof that they 

 are well furnished with powerful digestive organs. Though 

 naturally shy, they are fierce and mischievous when tamed, 

 especially to strangers ; they peck with their bills, and strike 

 so violently with their feet, that they have been knowm to 

 rip open a man's belly with their pointed angular claw at a 

 single blow. This bird breeds in the middle of winter, and 

 lays from twelve to twenty-one eggs, — some say from thirty 

 to fifty, — while others make them amount to eighty. The 

 nest is made on the ground, generally at the foot of some 

 isolated hill. The eggs are placed close together in a circle, 

 half-buried in the sand to protect them from rain ; and a nar- 

 row trench is drawn round, which carries off the water. At 

 the distance of ten or twelve feet from this circle the female 

 is said to place several other eggs, which she does not hatch, 

 as these are intended for the young ones to feed upon ; in- 

 stinct having taught her to meike this provision for her off- 



