O S T 
neaped like that of a man, on being differed, al- 
ways contains a variety of difcordant fubftances, 
as hayj grafs, barley, beans, bones, and fcones. 
Tome of which laft are larger than the egg of a 
pullet. The kidneys, v/hich are eight inches 
long, and two broad, differ from thofe of other 
birds in not being lobiilated; the heart and lungs 
are feparatedbya m.idriir, as in quadrupeds; and 
the parts of generation alfo bear a ftrong refem- 
blance and analogy. 
Hence it is evident that the Oftrich forms the 
fhade which unites the quadrupedal with the fea- 
thered tribes; and from this fcructure it's habits 
may alfo be conceived to be entirely peculiar. It 
inhabits tht torrid regions of Africa only ; and has 
long been celebrated by fuch authors as have had 
occafion to defcribe the animals of thofe climates. 
The Scriptures profcribe it's fiefli, as unfit for 
food ; and few of the ancients have emitted to 
mention fome particulars refpe£ling it. Lyike the 
race of the elephant and the lion, it is tranfmitted 
down with contamination; and has never been 
knov/n to breed out of that country where it was 
firft produced. It feems perfeftly adapted to the 
fandy and burning defirts of the torrid zone; and 
as it owes it's birth in fome meafure to their ge- 
nial influence, fo it feldom migrates into trasfls 
more fertile or more gentle. It chiefly inhabits 
the moft foiitary and horrid defarts, v/here there 
are fevv^ vegetables to clothe the furface of the 
earth, and v/here the rain feldom defcends to re- 
freili it. The Arabians affert, that the Oftrich 
never drinks; and the place of it's habitation 
feems to authenticate that alTertion. 
In thefe inhofpitable regions Oftriches are feen 
in large flocks, which to the diflant fpeftator ap- 
pear like a regiment of cavalry, and have often 
llrruck a panic into a whole caravan. There is 
no defart, how barren foever, but is capable of 
fupplying thefe animals with provifions, for they 
feed almoft indifcriminately on every thing: and 
thus thefe bari'cn tracts are doubly beneficial, 
fince th-ey afford them both food and fecurity. 
Of all known birds, the Oftrich is the moft vo- 
racious, as well as the leaft dainty in it's choice; 
for it will devour leather, grafs, hair, iron, flones, 
or any thing that firft prefents itfelf. Nor are it's 
powers of digeftion lefs extraordinary than it's ap- 
petites, with refpecl to fuch fubftances as are ca- 
pable of digeftion ; but thofe on which it's ftomach 
can make no imprefTion, fuch as glafs, ftones, or 
iron, are excluded in the fame form in which they 
were devoured. All metals indeed, which arc 
fwallowed by any animal, lofe a part of their 
weight, and often a fiiare of their figure, from the 
aftion of the juices of the ftomach on their fur- 
faces. A quarter pift'ole, which was fwallowed 
by a duck, loft feven grains of it's weight before 
it was voided ; and it is probable that a ftill greater 
diminution of weight would take place in the fto- 
mach of the Oftrich : confidered therefore in this 
light, this bird may be laid to digeft iron ; though 
fuch liibftances feldom remain long enough in 
the ftomach of any animal to undergo fo tedious 
a diffolution. But however this may be, certain 
it is, that in the Oftrich differed by Ranby, there 
appeared fuch a mafs of heterogeneous matter, 
that it was aftonifhing how any creature could di- 
geft fuch an overcharge of nourifhment. Valif- 
nieri alfo found the firft ftomach loaded with a 
quantity of incongruous fubftances, as grafs, nuts, 
cords, ftones, glafs, brafs, copper, iron, tin, lead. 
Vol, II, 
and wood; and one piece of ftone weighed up- 
wards of a pound. It would therefore feem that 
the Oftrich is obliged to fill up the great capacity 
of it's ftomach in order to be at eafc; but that nu- 
tritious fubftances not being within the fphere of 
it's fituation, it is forced to have recourfe to what- 
ever ofiers, in order to fupply the deficiency. 
In their native defarts, Oftriches lead a focial 
and inoffenfive life; and Thevenot afTures us, 
that the male and female live together vmh con- 
nubial fidelity. They are faid to be extremely 
falacious; and the ftru6lure of the parts in both, 
fexes feems to confirm this affertion. It is pro- 
bable alfo that they copulate, like other birds, 
by compreffion; and they lay very large eggs, 
fome of them about five inches in diameter, and 
weighing about fifteen pounds: thefe eggs have 
very hard fhells, fomewhat refembling the croco- 
dile's, except that thofe of the latter are fmaller 
and rounder. 
The climate in which Oftriches are bred feems 
to have a confiderable influence on the feafon for 
laving. In the northern parts of Africa, this fea- 
fon commences about the beginning of July; and, 
in the fouthern, about the latter end of December. 
Thefe birds are extremely prolific, generally lay- 
ing from forty to fifty eggs at one incubation; 
and it has been generally believed that the female 
depofits them in the fand, where covering them 
up, fhe leaves them to be hatched by the heat of 
the climate, and permits her young to fhift for 
themfelves. This account, however, is true only 
in a very limited degree; for no bird whatever has 
a ftronger afteftion for her brood than the Oftrich, 
or watches her eggs with more afTiduity. It hap- 
pens, indeed, in thofe hot climates, that there is 
lefs neceffity for the continual incubation of the 
female; and flie more frequently leaves her eggs, 
which are in no danger of being chilled by the 
weather : but though {he fometimes forfakes them 
by day, fne always carefully broods over them by 
night; and Kolben, who has feen great numbers 
of them at the Cape of Good Hope, affirms that 
they fit on their eggs like other birds, the male 
and female taking that office by turns, as he had 
frequent opportunities of obferving. The learned 
and ingenious Dr. Sparrmann alfo, who to every 
advantage of feeing the animals of this part of 
Africa unites the greateft abilities for making 
zoological obfervations, confirms the above ac- 
count; and refutes the vulgar opinion by irrefra- 
gable arguments. 
Nor is it more worthy of belief that thefe crea- 
tures forfake their young ones immediately after 
they are excluded from the fhells 3 on the con- 
trary, they are not even able to walk for feverai 
days after they are hatched. During this inter- 
val, the old ones are extremely afiiduous in fup- 
plying them with grafs ; and very careful in de- 
fending them from danger, even at the rifque of 
their own fafety. The young are of an afh-colour 
during the firft' year, and entirely covered with fea- 
thers ; but in time this plumage drops, and the 
parts afTume one more beautiful and becoming. 
The extreme elegance and beauty of the long 
feathers that compofe the tail and wings of the 
Oftrich, is the chief reafon why man has been fo 
a6tive in purfuing this harmlefs fowl to unfre- 
quented defarts, and hunting it with no fmall de- 
gree of expence and labou]-. The ancients ufed. 
thofe plumes in their helmets; the oriental ladies 
combined them with the ornam.ents of their drefs; 
1 N amons; 
