158 THE OSTRICH. 



enemies would again beset him in the morning ; but 

 being both stupid, and fatigued, he lies still near the 

 place where the hunters leave him, and is thus readi- 

 ly found in the morning. 



At last the poor bird, being worn down with fa- 

 tigue, and exhausted by famine, finds when it is too 

 late, that escape is out of his power. He then tries 

 to hide himself from his enemies, by plunging into a 

 thicket if one is near, or by lying close behind some 

 little sand hill. Sometimes, however, when closely 

 pursued, he boldly turns upon the hunters, and defends 

 himself with all his might. 



Although by nature wild and innocent, he now be 

 comes desperate, and fights with great force with his 

 beak, wings and feet, so that the men are obliged to 

 escape from his rage, to save themselves from being 

 thrown down, and trampled under his feet. Having 

 escaped from his blows, the hunters renew the attack 

 until the exhausted bird is no longer able to make 

 much resistance. The silly Ostrich, then finding that 

 both escape and defence are equally out of his power, 

 either puts his head under his wing, or buries it under 

 the sand, thus thinking to hide himself from the sight 

 of his enemies, by blinding his own eyes. In this con- 

 dition he is easily caught and secured by the hunters. 



The Arabs after taking their game in this manner, 

 try every means to keep it alive, and to tame it for the 

 purpose of supplying themselves with the feathers 

 which it sheds, these being much more valuable than 

 those taken from the dead bird. 



