THE TENTH BOOK 



OP THE 



HISTORY OF NATURE. 



WRITTEN BY 



C. PLINIUS SECUNDUS. 



CHAPTER I. 

 The Nature of Birds. 



followeth that we should speak of the Nature of 

 Birds, of which the greatest are the Ostriches. 1 

 They almost approach to the Nature of Beasts, 

 and inhabit Africa or Ethiopia. They are higher 

 than a Man sitting on Horseback ; and they are 

 also swifter than a Horse : their Wings being 

 only given them to help them in running ; for otherwise 

 they do not fly, nor do they even rise from the Ground. 

 They have Hoofs like Deer, and with them they fight ; for 

 as they are cloven, they serve to catch up Stones, which 

 with their Legs they hurl back in their Flight against those 

 that chase them. It is a Wonder in their Nature, that 

 whatever they eat, although it is without choice, they digest. 

 But their Stupidity is not less remarkable ; for, high as the 

 rest of their Body is, if they hide their Head and Neck in a 

 Bush, they think themselves altogether concealed. The 



1 Struihio camelus. Wern. Club. 



