54 



ON SAFARI 



nor his gun-bearer were able to distinguisli what that 

 dark rollmg object was, and had half concluded it must 

 be a rhino.' On their arrival within 200 yards the cock 

 ostrich stood up, and promptly received a bullet through 

 his body. He provided plumes and feathers enough to 

 supply an average family, but, as regards meat, was a 

 complete fraud. There is little or nothing eatable on 



OSTRICHES. 



an ostrich. Needins; no wino;- muscles, the sternum has 

 not even the rudiment of a keel, nor is there any nesh 

 whatever on his breast, while the leos are all sinews. 



As we had both during the morning "jumped 

 several small antelope or dikdik of kinds unknown to 

 us, we took Paradox guns that evening wdth the idea 

 of forming line to walk-up these small buck, or whatever 

 might befall. A very hot day, however, was now suc- 

 ceeded by rain, and, probal)ly owing to the grass being 

 wet, several small animals were seen to break away wild 

 before our advancing line. With a view to cut these 



