106 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



How it Feeds, and what it will Swallow. 



The Ostrich feeds in a peculiar manner. It tosses the food 

 into a sack in the upper part of the neck, and then swallows it. I 

 have seen a bird toss fully a quart of mealies (Indian corn) into 

 this sack before swallowing; and it is no uncommon thing to see 

 two " swallows " travelling down the neck at the same time with a 

 clear interval between them ; or to see one of them (if of large 

 and loose food, e.g. grain) slide back into the sack after being 

 swallowed, if the bird lowers its head to continue feeding before 

 the food has travelled some considerable distance down the neck. 

 The food travels slowly, and performs a complete circuit of the 

 neck before reaching the crop. Crushed bones are greedily 

 eaten ; if too large a piece should stick in the neck, it is a simple 

 matter to cut it out and sew the wound up again. The wound, as 

 a rule, heals quickly, and causes but little inconvenience. 



As is well known, Ostriches will swallow almost anything 

 small enough to pass down the neck. I have either known them 

 swallow, or have heard of them swallowing, and on evidence which 

 I believe, such things as oranges, small tortoises, fowl and turkey 

 chickens, and kittens ! I found a cock in my dining-room on one 

 occasion rapidly demolishing, one after another, the contents of a 

 box of luscious peaches. Some friends were playing tennis with 

 only one ball. A rather vigorous drive sent it beyond the tennis- 

 ground, close to an Ostrich hen ; she at once swallowed it with 

 evident relish, and brought the game to a sudden end ! A cock 

 swallowed several yards of fencing- wire in short pieces, and 

 about half a dozen brass cartridges. These were found in his 

 crop, and had killed him. He had followed the fencers, 

 swallowing the ends of the wires as filed off! An Ostrich's crop 

 always contains a large quantity of smooth stones, many of them 

 brightly coloured. 



Hoiv the Ostrich runs. 



Considerable misconception prevails as to the manner in which 

 the Ostrich runs. It seems to be still generally held that, when 

 running, it spreads out its wings, and, aided by them, skims 

 lightly over the ground. This is not correct. 



Y/hen a bird really settles itself to run it holds its head 

 lower than usual, and a little forward, with a deep loop in the 



