160 THE OSTRICH. 



groes mounted at the same time on the back of an 

 Ostrich. The bird, as soon as they were on his back, 

 began to move, and soon run as fast as possible, several 

 times around the village. This sight pleased the gen- 

 tleman so much, that he requested to have it repeated ; 

 and to try the strength of these birds, he desired a 

 negro man to get on the back of a small Ostrich, and 

 two other men to mount on that of a larger one. 

 This weight, he states, did not seem too much for 

 these birds. They moved at first, at a good trot, but 

 when they became a little heated, they expanded their 

 wings, and went along w 7 ith such amazing swiftness, 

 that they seemed hardly to touch the ground. 



The Ostrich is twice mentioned in the holy Scrip- 

 tures, namely in Job, chap. 39, verse 13-18, and in 

 Lamentations, chap. 4, verse 3. The passage in Job 

 describes the character, and habits of this bird, with 

 wonderful correctness, and shews, that since the day 

 it was written, the silly Ostrich has riot advanced, 

 either in wisdom, or understanding, but that she re- 

 mains the same in every respect that she was three 

 thousand years ago. 



" The Ostrich, which leave th her eggs in the earth, 

 and warmeth them in the dust, and forgetteth that the 

 foot may crush them, or that the wild beast may 

 break them. She is hardened against her young 

 ones, as though they were not hers. Because God hath 

 deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to 

 her understanding. What time she lifteth up herself 

 on high, she scorneth the horse and his rider." 



How perfectly this agrees with the history of this 

 poor foolish bird, given above, and particularly where 

 it is stated, that she leaves her eggs and her young, 



