[ 230 3 



'RDER VL S T R U T H I O U S, 



Genus LVIII. OSTRICH. 



|R. Sparrman* is of opinion that the male and female Oftrich [yi 

 on the eggs by turns, as in one of his journies, in the month 

 of Decemherj he frightened a male from the neft, which was made 

 only on the bare fand, on which the eggs lay fcattered and loofe v 

 they were in number eleven. In another neft fifteen were found ; 

 and he reafonably concludes, that from fixteen to twenty is the 

 common number. The ufual weight of the ihell is eleven 

 ounces j the depth fix inches and a half; and contains five pints 

 and a quarter of liquid ; and that the weight of a frefh egg does 

 not greatly exceed this. The Hottentots eat the flefh of the 

 birds, and the colonifts at the Cape ufe the eggs in pancakes. 

 The tame OJlriches at the Cape have ftrength fufficient to run 

 along with any one on their back, without feeming to be impeded 

 by his weight. In the tame ftate, they are apt to be mifchievous, 

 and will frequently kill the poultry by trampling them under their 

 feet ; and he mentions an inftance of one that was obliged to be 

 killed, having trampled fheep to death in the fame manner. 



» Sparrm. Voy, 5. p. izi, izz. 



Div. 



