THE CABINET OF NATURAL HISTORY, 



of vigour, which every animal must suffer when confined 

 under the dominion of man, and restrained from those 

 habits of invariable instinct which, in their natural state, 

 produce in them the greatest height of perfection. 



[Annals of Sporting. 



THE SPEED AND STRENGTH OF THE OSTRICH. 



Sports and pastimes, which appear to be varied accord- 

 ing to situation, the genius of the people, or other cir- 

 cumstances, not necessary now either to investigate or 

 detail, seem natural to all countries. Thus, while an 

 English sportsman is delighted with the chase of the fox, 

 the Greenlander experiences pleasure in pursuing the 

 seal; the inhabitants of New South Wales in coursing 

 the kangaroo, the Arab of the Desert feels sensations 

 equally agreeable in following, upon his beautiful steed, 

 the half-running, half-flying ostrich. 



If we are to place confidence in travellers' tales, the 

 ostrich is swifter than the Arabian horse; and that when 

 the Arabs chase this bird, they do not immediately pursue 

 it in a straight direction, but by turning and twisting, and 

 assisting each other, they accomplish that which, by a 

 direct pursuit they would vainly strive to attain. I 

 must confess I have some difficulty in placing confidence 

 in relations which would make us believe that the 

 ostrich is swifter than the Arabian horse, or our English 

 racer. 



During the time of Mr. Adamson's residence at Podor, 

 a French factory on the south side of the river Niger, he 

 says, that two ostriches, which had been about two years 

 in the factory, afforded him a sight of a very extraordinary 

 nature. These gigantic birds, though young, were of 

 nearly the full size. " They were (he continues) so tame, 

 that two little blacks mounted both together on the back 

 of the larger. No sooner did he feel their weight than 

 he began to run as fast as possible, and carried them several 

 times round the village; and it was impossible to stop 

 him, otherwise than by obstructing the passage. This 

 sight pleased me so much that I wished it to be repeated; 

 and, to try their strength, directed a full-grown negro to 

 mount the smallest, and two others the larger. This bur- 

 den did not seem at all disproportioned to their strength. 

 At first, they went at a pretty sharp trot; but when they 

 became heated a little, they expanded their wings as 

 though to catch the wind, and moved with such fleetnes9, 

 that they scarcely seemed to touch the ground. Most 

 people have, one time or other, seen the partridge run; 



and, consequently, must know there is no man whatever 

 able to keep up with it: and it is easy to imagine, that if 

 this bird had a longer step, its speed would be considera- 

 bly augmented. The ostrich moves like the partridge 

 with this advantage; and I am satisfied, that those I am 

 speaking of would have distanced the fleetest race-horses 

 that were ever bred in England. It is true, they would- 

 not hold out so long as a horse, but they would, undoubt- 

 edly, be able to go over the space in less time. I have 

 frequently beheld this sight, which is capable of giving 

 one an idea of the prodigious strength of the ostrich, 

 and of showing what use it might be of, had we but the 

 method of breaking and managing it as we do the 

 horse. " — Ibid. 



INSTRUCTIONS TO YOUNG SPORTSMEN. 



No. VII. 



In the present number of my instructions, I shall con- 

 fine myself to Grouse Shooting — embracing, under that 

 head, the variety of these birds found in different parts of 

 this country. I shall, therefore, impress on your mind, 

 that there are already six different species of Grouse found 

 in the United States, and the territories belonging to it, 

 viz. the Ruffed Grouse — the Pinnated Grouse — the Spot- 

 ted Grouse — the Dusky Grouse — the Sharp-tailed Grouse 

 —and the Cock of the Plains. The most common on 

 this list is the Ruffed Grouse, and is much better known 

 throughout the country than any of the other species. It 

 is that bird which is usually called and known as the Phea- 

 sant, and is found in every state of the Union, more par- 

 ticularly in the northern, middle, and western states. It 

 is a bird at all times difficult of access, except when it is 

 met in an undisturbed state in the wilds of the country, 

 and it sees man for the first time; but in populous parts, it 

 generally seeks the most dense thickets of low lands, and 

 difficult parts of hills and mountains, — and its shy and 

 solitary disposition renders it one of the most difficult 

 birds to shoot, as it always shuns the traveller or sports- 

 man, and seeks shelter in places almost inaccessible. 



To hunt the Ruffed Grouse successfully, two persons 

 should be employed, and with but one good, careful old 

 dog, that will not run far ahead; and as these birds mostly 

 resort to swampy thickets in the midst of woods, it will be 

 well for one to go on each side of the same, while the dog 

 is cautiously hunting the centre. You must not suffer 

 your dog to range too far from you, as the bird, before it 



