BLACK OSTRJCHV 



pebbles, of a pale yellow colour, and exceedingly 

 hard : Tliunberg was informed that these are often 

 set and used for buttons. The shell of the egg h 

 frequently used for drinking cups and other utensils, 

 and is often set in gold for that purpose, being 

 exceedingly hard, and equal in appearance to the 

 finest ivory : it is also cut into small pieces and 

 used for many ornamental purposes^ such as rings 

 and necklaces. 



The great strength of these birds is exemplified in 

 the following anecdote, related by Adanson, which 

 took place during his residence at Podor, a French 

 factory on the southern bank of the river Niger : 

 he relates, that " two Ostriches which had been 

 about two years in the factory, and although 

 young were nearly of their full size, were so tame 

 that two little blacks mounted both together on 

 the back of the largest : no sooner did he feel 

 their weight, than he began to run as fast as 

 possible, and carried them several times round 

 the village, as it was impossible to stop him other- 

 wise than by obstructing the passage. This sight 

 pleased me so much, that I ordered it to be re- 

 peated ; and to try their strength, directed a full 

 grown negro to mount the smallest, and two others 

 the largest. This burden did not seem at all 

 disproportioned to their strength. At first they 

 went a tolerably sharp trot, but when they became 

 heated a little, they expanded their wings as 

 though to catch the wind, and moved with such 

 fleetness that they scarcely seemed to touch th^ 



