THE SCOTTISH UEUS. 20 J 



He who, from zone to zone, 



Guides through the boundless sky thy certain flight, 

 In the long way that I must tread alone, 



Will lead my steps aright. 



The ostrich is remarkably shy and wary. A native of 

 wide sandy plains, its stature enables it to command a 

 wide horizon, while its great fleetness makes the chase 

 a most severe exercise. " When she lif teth herself on 

 high, she scorneth the horse and his rider." The rheas, 

 which are the representatives of the ostrich in South 

 America, inhabit regions presenting many of the charac- 

 teristics of the African plains, and have much the same 

 habits. They are extraordinarily vigilant, and so swift of 

 foot, that it is only by surrounding them from various 

 quarters, and thus confusing the birds, who know not 

 whither to run, that the Gauchos are able to entangle 

 them with the bolas or weighted cord. Mr Darwin says 

 that the bird takes alarm at the approach of man, when 

 he is so far off as to be unable to discern the bird. 



Ancient writers mention a species of ox as inhabiting 

 the forests of Europe, which they call the urus. It is 

 described as being of a most savage and untameable 

 disposition, delighting in the most wild and recluse parts 

 of the forest, of vast size and power. It is generally 

 believed that this race is preserved in some semi- wild oxen 

 of a pure white colour, which inhabit one or two extensive 

 woodland parks in the northern parts of our own island. 

 It is interesting to observe the effect which the presence 

 of man produces upon these animals. On the appearance 



