THE OSTRICH. 383 



in their habits, the Brevipennac differ greatly from the other Gralla- 

 tores. They have wings, it is true, but they are so slightly 

 developed that they are entirely unfit for purposes of flight, and 

 are only useful in accelerating the speed of their limbs. On the 

 other hand, their legs are long and powerful, and capable of im- 

 mense muscular effort, thus enabling them to run with extraordi- 

 nary fleetness. 



The deduction to be drawn from these facts is, that the Brevi- 

 pennes are essentially land- birds. This limitation of their habitat 

 necessitated certain modifications in the sternum, which, instead 

 of a iDrominent edge of bone in the centre, as in other birds, only 

 presents one uniform breast-plate. Again, most of the Brevipennes 

 are birds of large size, and, in certain circumstances, manifest 

 remarkable vigour. 



This group comprehends the Ostrich [Strutkio camelus), the 

 American Nandou [Rhea americanus), the Cassowary [Casuarius 

 emit), and the Apterj^x. 



The head of the Ostrich {Struthio camelus), Fig. 153, is naked 

 and callous, with a short bill, much depressed and rounded at the 

 point ; its legs are half naked, muscular, and fleshy ; the tarsi 

 are long and rovigh, terminating in two toes pointing forward, 

 one of which is shorter than the other, and has no claw ; the 

 wings are very short, and formed of soft and flexible feathers ; 

 the tail taking the form of a plume. 



There is but one species of the Ostrich ; it is sparsely diffused 

 over the interior of Africa, and is rarely found in Asia, except, 

 perhaps, in Arabia. It is the largest member of the Grallatores, 

 generally measuring six feet in height, and occasionally at- 

 taining nine feet ; its weight varies from twenty to a hundred 

 pounds. 



The Ostrich has been known from the most remote antiquity. 

 It is spoken of in the sacred writings, for Moses forbade the 

 Hebrews to eat of its flesh, as being "unclean food." The 

 Romans, however, far from sharing the views of the Jewish 

 legislator, considered it a great culinary luxury. In the days 

 of the emperors they were consumed in considerable numbers, and 

 we read that the luxurious Ileliogabalus carried his magnificence 



