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NATURAL HISTORY OF ARABIA. 



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, becomes black as jet ; 

 whilst the tail and the rest of the feathers are of an ex- 

 quisite whiteness. The belly, thighs, and breast, do not 

 partake of this covering, being usually naked. The fe- 

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

 great pinion, and sometimes upon 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. In 

 feeding it is voracious, devouring every thing indiscrimi- 

 nately, 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 mis- 

 chievous when tamed, especially to strangers ; they peck 

 with their bills, and strike so violently with their feet, 

 that they have been known 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 narrow 

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

 the distance of ten or twelve feet from this circle the fe- 

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

 hatch, as these are intended for the young ones to feed 

 upon ; instinct having taught her to make this provision 

 for her offspring, which might otherwise perish of hunger 

 in the desert.* The parents sit by turns ; for it is an 

 error to suppose that they leave their eggs to be hatched 

 in the sun ; and while one is on the nest the other keeps 



1 This instinctive habit of the female ostrich is, however doubt- 

 ed by some authors. 



