34 NATURAL HISTORY OF BIRDS. 



five phalanges, the latter being clawless, thus showing a tendency to become finally re- 

 duced, as in the Solipeds among the mammals ; the true ostrich, furthermore, is char- 

 acterized by an external tail ; by the maxillo-palatines articulating with facets on the 

 sides of the vomer ; by the pubes uniting in a ventral symphysis, while the ischia are 

 free ; by having two carotids, besides several other features. 



The "camel bird," the "pride of the desert," is represented in Africa by three 

 forms or species, the well-known Striithio camelus, besides the more recently described 

 8. australis, from South Africa, and S. molybdophanes from Somali-land, though the 

 status of the two last ones is yet somewhat doubtful. An ostrich is also known to 

 occur in the deserts adjoining Palestine and the countries of the Euphrates valley, and 

 is also said to inhabit Arabia proper. That it has always been called S. camelus does 

 not prove that it is the same species as that of Western Africa, since the two other 

 forms of that continent, until a few years ago, were confounded with it under the 

 same name ; it is rather probable that the Asiatic bird is separable. The differences, 

 however, are slight and only visible to the expert. For our purpose it suffices to 

 describe the appearance of the ostrich in general. The head, neck, and legs arc 

 naked, only covered by a sparse down ; the male has black feathers on the body, those 

 of the wing and tail being white and of the greatest value ; the female is plainer 

 colored, brownish gray, and the young birds, when two months old, are similar ; the 

 chick is covered all over with a light-colored spiny down, with longitudinal blackish 

 stripes. The full adult plumage is assumed at the third year. The adult male stands 

 about seven feet high, and weighs from one hundred and fifty to two hundred pounds. 

 In habits the different forms may be nearly identical, and what trustworthy travelers 

 have related of one species is probable applicable to the others. 



The ostrich has, from olden time, been regarded as an exceedingly stupid bird, 

 we all remember the tale of the ostrich believing himself concealed when putting 

 his head behind a stone so he could not see his enemy, and Alfred Brehm has em- 

 phatically expressed the same opinion, though other observers attribute its shyness and 

 timidity to a certain degree of intelligence. In captivity it soon becomes tame, and is 

 said to be quite gentle, but is easily frightened so as to run insanely about in its 

 inclosure ; during the breeding season the old male is usually quite savage, and attacks 

 even man, inflicting sometimes dangerous injuries by kicking. 



Timid and of rather solitary tastes, the ostrich lives in small flocks, relying upon 

 their extraordinarily acute sight and their fleetness of foot for safety, often in the 

 neighborhood of the still more wary herds of wild zebras. They feed upon the low 

 grass and herbs, when in the wild state, and occasionally some insects, a few reptiles 

 or the like are picked up ; but it is only in confinement that the ostrich proves him- 

 self that voracious omnivorous animal that has made the ostrich stomach almost 

 proverbial. 



Judging from the scanty information of travelers as to the voice of the ostrich, 

 we may infer that, usually, it is a rather silent bird, though occasionally making good 

 use of its rather imperfect syrinx, as seems evident from Livingstone's statement, that 

 it is frequently difficult to distinguish its bellowing from the roaring of the lion. 



In order to illustrate certain habits, and the manner in which they are hunted in 

 North Africa, we transcribe the following from Rev. Mr. Tristram's spirited account 

 of his experiences in that part of the world : 



" The capture of the ostrich is the greatest feat of hunting to which the Arab 

 sportsman aspires, and in richness of booty it ranks next to the plunder of a caravan. 



