56 ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS. 



other bird, hovering around the spot in which they 

 are deposited, and if surprised in her occupation, 

 making a short circuit, and constantly returning to the 

 object of her care. This doubhng kind of flight is 

 regarded by the hunters as a certain sign of the vicinity 

 of her eggs, as at all other times the Ostriches pursue, 

 for a time at least, a direct and straightforward course. 

 In the more temperate regions, and especially in the 

 neighbourhood of the Cape, the Ostrich sits like other 

 birds, always choosing the most retired and solitary 

 places. Her nest consists merely of a pit of about 

 three feet in diameter dug in the sand, which is thrown 

 up around it so as to form an elevated margin. At 

 some little distance are usually placed, each in a 

 separate cavity in the sand, a number of rejected eggs, 

 which are said to be intended to serve as nutriment 

 for the young brood as soon as hatched; a most 

 remarkable instance of foresight if truly stated, but 

 not yet confirmed beyond the possibility of doubt. 



The eggs are extremely hard, very weighty, and 

 twenty or thirty times as large as those of our common 

 hen. The colour of the shells is a dirty white, tinged 

 with light yellow. These are frequently formed into 

 cups ; and are used in various ways as ornaments by 

 the natives of the countries in which they are found. 

 The eggs themselves form, according to Thunberg, an 

 article of considerable commerce at the Cape, where 

 they are sold to the vessels that touch there, the thick- 

 ness of their shells rendering them preferable for a sea- 

 voyage to those of any other bird. They are generally 

 regarded as great luxuries ; but on this point there is 

 some difference of opinion, M. Sonnini affirming that, 

 either from habit or from prejudice, he could not bring 

 himself to consider them so good as the eggs to which 

 he had been accustomed ; while M. Cuvier rapturously 



