ARFICA. 



823 



noxious serpents, are everywhere abundant 



Jlnts' J^esls, 



and the Zebab^ or Fly, one of the instruments 

 employed by the Ahnighty to punish the 

 Egyptians of old, is slill the plague of the 

 low districts. The myriads of ants which 

 swarm in Western Africa can scarcely be 

 conceived by those who have not visited 

 those countries. The nests of the White 

 Jlnts (Teriniles), which are peculiar to 

 this region, form a singular feature in the 

 scenery, rising from the plains in the shape 

 of sugar-loaves to such a height as to 

 appear like villages of the natives. Those of one species ( T. arda) are cylindrical, nearly 3 

 feet high, the top terminated by a round, vaulted dome, and surrounded by a prominent terrace, 

 the whole not unlike the shape of a mushroom. Two species of the edentalous mammals, which 

 feed upon ants, are also found here, adding one to the other thousand instances of design and 

 arrangement which pervades the order of nature. These are the Jlardvark (Orycleropus Ca- 

 pensis), and the Long-tailed Manis {JSlanis Jifricanus), the latter of which is destitute of teeth, 

 but is covered with a thick mail of hard scales. 



10. Birds. The Ostrich (Struthis camelusj is a native of the torrid regions of Africa. It 



is generally considered as the largest 

 of birds, but its great size, and the 

 shortness of its wings, deprives it of 

 the power of flying. The weight of 

 this bird may be estimated at 75 or 80 

 pounds. It inhabits the most solitary 

 and arid deserts, where there are few 

 vegetables, and where the rain never 

 comes to refresh the earth. It is said 

 that the ostrich never drinks ; but it is 

 of all animals the most voracious, de- 

 vouring leather, glass, iron, stones, or 

 anything that it can get. The savage 

 nations of Africa hunt them not only 

 for their plumage, but for their flesh, 

 which they consider a great dainty. 



The Bustard (Olis) is similar to the 

 ostrich in many of its habits, and even 

 somewhat in appearance ; several spe- 

 cies inhabit the karroos and arid plains 

 of Africa. Of gallinaceous birds 

 adapted to the poultry -yard, there are 

 few ; but the genus of Guinea Hens 

 [J^umiday is peculiar to Africa, and is 

 common in our barn-yards. There 

 are three or four distinct species, and 

 they are found in large flocks of oOO 

 or 500. There are also several spe- 

 cies of grouse and partridges. Innu- 

 merable varieties of parrots and parro- 

 quets swarm in all the forests, which 

 resound with their hoarse screams. 

 The Bearded Griffin, or Lammer Geyer, (Gypcelus harbalus,) is found in the mountains of 

 Egypt and Abyssinia, occupying the loftiest and most inaccessible clifls, and frequently com- 

 mitting dreadful ravages in the neighboring plains. It seizes by preference on living victims, 

 chiefly quadrupeds ; such as rabbits, hares, sheep, and lambs. 



The Golden Vulture (Perenopterus) is abundant in Egypt and other parts of Africa, where 

 it is of singular service in devouring all sorts of filth and carrion. The Griffin Vulture [Vul' 



Ostriches. 



