BLACK OSTRICH. 
42^ 
ground. Most people have, one time or other, 
seen a Partridge run, and consequently must know 
that 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 considerably 
augmented. The Ostrich moves like the Par- 
tridge, with this advantage ; and I am satisfied 
that those I am speaking of would have distanced 
the fleetest racehorses that were ever bred in 
England : it is true they would not hold out so 
long as a horse, but they would undoubtedly 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 
an Ostrich, and of shewing what use it might be 
of had we but the method of breaking and ma- 
naging it as we do a horse.” 
In a tame state they are tractable and familiar 
towards persons that are acquainted with them, 
but are often fierce towards strangers, whom they 
will attempt to push down by running furiously 
upon them, and on succeeding in this effort, they 
not only peck at their fallen foe with their beak, 
but strike at him with their feet with the utmost 
violence : when thus engaged they make a fierce 
hissing noise, and have their throats inflated and 
mouths open ; but at other times they have a 
kind of cackling voice, which they use when they 
have disabled an adversary. During the night 
they often utter a doleful and hideous cry, some- 
what resembling the distant roaring of a lion, or 
