LECTURE VI. 21T 



Ihese two genera seem to be of an ambiguous 

 cast, and may with almost equal propriety be 

 placed in either order. The genus Struthio or 

 Ostrich is eminently conspicuous among birds; 

 containing by far the largest of the feathered 

 tribe. The generic characters consist in a some- 

 what conical, and slightly flattened bill; wings 

 useless for flight, and feet formed for running, 

 being destitute of the hind or back toe. The 

 Common Ostrich, of which at least the general 

 appearance and common history must be known 

 to almost every one, is a native of the hottest 

 parts of Africa ; the body of the male is black, 

 of the female brown ; the wings and tail in both 

 are white ; the neck ne^ly bare, and of a flesh 

 colour : the legs excessively strong, and the feet 

 have only two toes, a particularity not to be found 

 in any other bird. 



The Ostrich is supposed to feed principally 

 on vegetable substances: it has been accused, 

 from the earliest times, of a proverbial neglect 

 of its eggs, which it is supposed to leave in 

 the sand withd^ut paying any regard to their se- 

 curity. Dr. Sparrman however is inclined to 



