OSTRICH. 391 



The food of the Ostrich is of the vegetable kind — grass, fruits, 

 grain, &c. but it is observed to swallow many small pebbles, which 

 are found in the stomach on dissection,* in this imitating our poultry; 

 and when kept in confinement, will gorge bits of iron, copper, 

 glass, lead, &c. which sometimes proves fatal to them.f They are 

 often very destructive to the farmers, doing much damage to the corn, 

 as they come in flocks to eat the ears of the wheat ; and unless by 

 stratagem are not easily taken, as they are both swift and strong ; 

 instances are recorded where one has borne two men on its back, and 

 run along with them without difficulty.^ 



* See Dissection of an Ostrich, with an account of it. — Phil. Trans. V. 33. p. 223. 

 Id. V. 34. p. 113. & V. 36. 275. 



t Pitfield, Mem. 226. 



% Adanson. He thinks their pace to be swifter than that of the fleetest horse. — Voy. 

 Seneg. 8vo. p. 87. Mr. Moore says, " whilst I was here (at Vintain) I saw an Ostrich 

 with a man riding on its back, who was going down to the fort, it being a present to the 

 Governor." — Travels into Africa, p. 318. 



END OF VOL. VIII. 



JACOB AND JOHNSON, PRINTERS, 

 WINCHESTER. 



