( 30 ) 

 l^he Oflrich, 



Numb. XXXI. 



IT Is the greateft of all Birds, the Head is fmall, deprefled or flat- 

 crown'd, like a Goofe%\ the Bill alfo is comprefTed, and compared 

 with the Body, very fmall, of a triangular Figure, and Horn Colour, 

 the End being blackifh ; the flit of the Mouth is large, reaching fo far 

 that its Angles lie diredlly under the Eyes, The Eyes are great with 

 Hazel-Coloured Irides. The Head and Neck, and almoft as far as the 

 Breaft, are bare of Feathers, as alfo the Thighs, the Head and Neck 

 are covered with a certain Down, or thin fet Hairs inftead of Feathers; 

 the fides under the Wings, and the Thighs are abfolutely bare, and of 

 a Flefh Colour; the Wings are fmall, and unufeful for flying, defigned 

 by Nature, only to afTifl: the Bird in running, being fpread and moved ; 

 the Feathers in the Back of the Cock are black, in the Hen dusky, with 

 light brown Edges, the large Quill- Feathers of the Wings and Tail are 

 purely white, the latter is thick, bufhy and round, and not to be fpread 

 as in other Birds, and are in great Requeft with Soldiers for their Hats ; 

 its Neck and Legs are very long ; it hath but two Toes, wanting the 

 Back- toe and inmoft Fore-toe, the outer was five Inches and a half long, 

 the other eight, armed with a ftrong Claw; the Toes are conneded 

 with a thick ftrong Membrane, as far as the nrfl: Joint. 



It fwallows Iron^ Leathe?'^ Grafs, Bread, Hair, and whatever elfe 

 you oiTer it promifcuoufly: Howbeit it doth not concoft Iron or other 

 hard things, but voids them intire by Stool. Thefe Birds are bred in 

 the Defarts of Arabia, and in /Ijrica, and fometimes are feen in great 

 Companies; they lay very large Eggs, which they bury in the Sand; 

 they are hatched by the heat of the Sun, the old ones taking no far- 

 ther care of them. 



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