102 ZOOLOGY. 



The characters of which, are strong muscular bodies ; wings 

 short; legs long, stout, and scaly ; toes two or three; tail 

 very short or wanting. 



1. Didus. Dodo. Bill narrowed in the middle, with two 



transvere wrinkles, each mandible bent in at the tip ; 

 nostrils oblique, situated near the middle of the bill ; 

 face naked beyond the eyes ; legs short and thick ; feet 

 cleft ; wings short ; tail wanting. 



This is a genus, of which but very little is known, they 

 are said to inhabit the Isles of France, Bourbon, and Mada- 

 gascar, and to be exceedingly swift and shy. 



2. Struthio. Ostrich. Bill subconical ; tongue short, flat, 



entire ; nostrils oval ; wings short ; feet two or three 

 toed. 



Ostriches are confined to the extensive plains in the inte- 

 rior of Asia and Africa, and are so exceedingly swift of foot, 

 as almost to defy pursuit ; the tail feathers are in consider- 

 able demand, as articles of ornament, on which account the 

 birds are much sought after, but they are, when full grown, 

 with great difficulty obtained alive. They feed on vegetables 

 and worms, and in confinement, will swallow almost every 

 substance that offers, provided the size be not too large, such 

 as stones, glass, wood, metals, &c. They lay a vast number 

 of eggs, and according to Le Vaillant and others, the female 

 lays a number of barren eggs, near the spot where the perfect 

 ones are deposited ; and which form a store of food for the 

 young, as soon hatched. In the hotter parts, the Ostriqji 



