BIIIDS. ♦. 35 



Apioius gives a receipt for making sauce for the ostrich ; and 

 Heliogabalus is noted for having dressed the brains of six hun- 

 dred ostriches in one dish ; for it was his custom never to eat 

 but of one dish in a day, but that was an expensive one. Even 

 among the Europeans now, the eggs of the ostrich are said to be 

 well tasted, and extremely nourishing ; but they are too scarce 

 to be fed upon, although a single egg be a sufficient entertain- 

 ment for eight men. 



As the spoils of the ostrich are thus valuable, it is not to be 

 wondered at that man has become their most assiduous pursuer. 

 For tliis purpose, the Arabians train up their best and fleetest 

 horses, and hunt the ostrich still iu view. Perhaps of all other 

 varieties of the chase, this though the most laborious, is yet the 

 most entertaining. As soon as the hunter comes within sight 

 of his prey, he puts on his horse with a gentle gallop, so as to 

 keep the ostrich still in sight ; yet not so as to terrify him from 

 the plain into the mountains. Of all known animals that make 

 use of their legs in running, the ostrich is by far the swiftest ; 

 upon observing himself therefore pursued at a distance, he be- 

 gins to run at first but gently ; either insensible of his danger, 

 or sure of escaping. In this situation he somewhat resembles 

 a man at full speed; his wings, like two arms, keep working 

 with a motion correspondent to that of his legs : and his speed 

 would very soon snatch him from the view of his pursuers ; but, 

 unfortunately for the silly creature, instead of going off in a di- 

 rect line, he takes his course in circles ; while the hunters still 

 make a small course within, relieve each other, meet him at un- 

 expected turns, and keep him thus still employed, still followed 

 for two or three days together. At last, spent with fatigue and 

 famiiie, and finding all power of escape impossible, he endea- 

 vours to hide himself from those enemies he cannot avoid, and 

 covers his head in the sand, or the first thicket he meets. Some- 

 times, however, he attempts to face his pursuers ; and thoug!\ 

 in general the most gentle animal in nature, when driven to des- 

 peration, he defends himself with his beak, his wings, and his 

 feet. Such is the force of his motion, that a man would be ut- 

 terly unable to withstand him in the shock. 



The Struthophagi have another method of taking this bird ; 

 they cover themselves with an ostrich's skin, and passing up an 

 arm through the neck, thus counterfeit all the motions of this 



