318 CHASING THE OSTRICH. 



surnamed the Camel-Bird (Struthio camelus), inhabits the arid plains 

 of the African interior, and frequently penetrates into the Sahara. 

 The male is of a glossy black, with white on the wings and tail ; the 

 female wears an uniformly dusky livery. It is the loose flexible 

 plumes of the male which are so prized for a lady's toilette, and which 

 figure in the crest of the prince of Wales. The female's feathers are 

 of inferior value, and improperly designated in commerce, " vulture- 

 feathers." 



The Ostrich lives with his fellows in flocks of some number. He 

 feeds voraciously on grass, grain, young twigs, and will swallow pieces 

 of wood, leather, metal, or any hard substance. In his apparent 

 want of taste he is probably guided by instinct, for these objects are 

 probably useful in promoting the work of digestion. Some travellers 

 have represented him as a stupid animal ; but this is an error, for 

 he displays both vigilance and shrewdness in avoiding the attacks of 

 his enemies. The chase of this bird is exceedingly laborious, for 

 though he does not fly he skims the ground, and his wings impel him 

 forward with a velocity which distances the swiftest horse. But 

 neither his speed nor his strength avails against the stratagems of 

 man. The Arab horsemen surround the flock in a circle, which they 

 gradually contract as they advance, until the poor birds are confined 

 in a very narrow area, and dashing madly against one another, fall 

 exhausted with fatigue. They are then slain by a few blows from a 

 stick. 



The female lays from ten to twelve eggs in a hole in the sand ; 

 she broods over them during the night, occasionally leaving them in 

 the hottest part of the day. In procuring the eggs, which weigh 

 about three pounds each, and are reputed a great delicacy, the natives 

 are very careful not to touch any with their hands, as the parent 

 birds would be sure to discover it on their return, and not only dis- 

 continue laying any more in the same place, but trample to pieces all 

 those which have not been removed. A long stick is accordingly 

 made use of to push them from the nest. 



Another gigantic bird, whose wings are but partially developed, and 



