THE OSTRICH. 377 



As, the Ostrich, ( 42 ) and Emeu, well known in the 



east ; 

 To credulity long both have furnished a feasts 



(+ 2 ) Order, Grall,e, (Linn.) Ostrich, Emeu, Cassowary, 



Rhea. 



The genus Struthio, (Linn.) or Ostrich, is arranged by 

 Dr. Latham as a separate order, (Struthiones,) consisting, 

 with the Dodo, of four genera. It comprehends, without the 

 Dodo, five species, not only the Ostrich so called, but also 

 the Emeu, the Cassowary, and the Rhea. This tribe has 

 been arranged under the order Gallinje by some authors. 

 Its characteristics are a subconicbill; oval nostrils; wings unfit 

 for flight ; feet formed for running. They are as follow : (the 

 Dodo is described in the next note.) 



The Camelus, Ostrich, Black, or African-Ostrich, has 

 the feet two-toed ; plumage of the male black ; quill feathers 

 and those of the tail perfectly white : plumage of the female ash- 

 colour ; wings and tail black $ height from the top of the head to 

 the ground from seven to nine feet; length from the beak to 

 the top of the tail the same ; weight from eighty to one 

 hundred and fifty pounds, or perhaps more, and is said to be 

 the largest of birds. It is found in Africa, and the parts of 

 Asia adjoining, and in great plenty about the Cape of Good 

 Hope. The female is larger than the male. 



From its scanty plumage and its great weight it cannot rise 

 in the air ; the covering of the body of this bird is composed of 

 downy hairs ; the thighs are large and muscular; the legs scaly ; 

 the toes thick, having a striking similarity to those of a goat ; 

 the inner toe, including the claw, is seven inches; the other, 

 which is without a claw, is about four inches long ; the eyelids 

 are furnished with hairs; on the breast is a callous, bare, and 

 hard substance, serving the bird to rest on when it bends for- 

 ward to sit on the ground ; on each wing are two spurs, about 

 an inch in length, 



