616 AVES—AMERICAN OSTRICH. 
beetles, &c., afford a means of sustenance to the young. This, however, 
may be considered as apocryphal. 
When first hatched, the young ones are familiar, and follow the first per- 
son they meet. I have been followed myself, says Wafer, by many of these 
young ostriches, which at first are extremely harmless and simple; but, as 
they grow older, they become more cunning and distrustful; and run so 
swift, that a greyhound can scarcely overtake them. Their flesh, in general, 


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is good to be eaten, especially if ney be young. It would be no difficult 
matter to rear up flocks of these animals tame, particularly as they are 
naturally so familiar; and they might be found to answer domestic purposes, 
like the hen or the turkey. Their maintenance could not be expensive, if, 
as Narborough says, they live entirely upon grass. Like the ostrich, the 
touyou is indiscriminately voracious; swallowing stones, iron, and other 
hard substances. 
