22 
THE CABINET OF NATURAL HISTORY, 
of vigour, which every animal must suffer when confined 
under the dominion of man, and restrained from those 
habits of invariable instinct which, in their natural state, 
produce in them the greatest height of perfection. 
[ Annals of Sporting. 
THE SPEED AND STRENGTH OF THE OSTRICH. 
Sports and pastimes, which appear to be varied accord- 
ing to situation, the genius of the people, or other cir- 
cumstances, not necessary now either to investigate or 
detail, seem natural to all countries. Thus, while an 
English sportsman is delighted with the chase of the fox, 
the Greenlander experiences pleasure in pursuing the 
seal; the inhabitants of New South Wales in coursing 
the kangaroo, the Arab of the Desert feels sensations 
equally agreeable in following, upon his beautiful steed, 
the half-running, half-flying ostrich. 
If we are to place confidence in travellers’ tales, the 
ostrich is swifter than the Arabian horse; and that when 
the Arabs chase this bird, they do not immediately pursue 
it in a straight direction, but by turning and twisting, and 
assisting each other, they accomplish that which, by a 
direct pursuit they would vainly strive to attain. I 
must confess I have some difficulty in placing confidence 
in relations which would make us believe that the 
ostrich is swifter than the Arabian horse, or our English 
racer. 
During the time of Mr. Adamson’s residence at Podor, 
a French factory on the south side of the river Niger, he 
says, that two ostriches, which had been about two years 
in the factory, afforded him a sight of a very extraordinary 
nature. These gigantic birds, though young, were of 
nearly the full size. “They were (he continues) so tame, 
that two little blacks mounted both together on the back 
of the larger. No sooner did he feel their weight than 
he began to run as fast as possible, and carried them several 
times round the village; and it was impossible to stop 
him, otherwise than by obstructing the passage. This 
sight pleased me so much that I wished it to be repeated; 
and, to try their strength, directed a full-grown negro to 
mount the smallest, and two others the larger. This bur- 
den did not seem at all disproportioned to their strength. 
At first, they went at a pretty 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 the ground. Most 
people have, one time or other, seen the partridge run; 
and, consequently, must know there is no man whatever 
able to keep up with it: and it is easy to imagine, that if 
this bird had a longer step, its speed would be considera- 
bly augmented. The ostrich moves like the partridge 
with this advantage; and I am satisfied, that those I am 
speaking of would have distanced the fleetest race-horses 
that were ever bred in England. It is true, they would 
not hold out so long as a horse, but they would, undoubt- 
edly, be able to go over the space in less time. I have 
frequently beheld this sight, which is capable of giving 
one an idea of the prodigious strength of the ostrich,, 
and of showing what use it might be of, had we but the 
method of breaking and managing it as we do the 
horse.” — Ibid . 
INSTRUCTIONS TO YOUNG SPORTSMEN. 
No. VII. 
In the present number of my instructions, I shall con- 
fine myself to Grouse Shooting — embracing, under that 
head, the variety of these birds found in different parts of 
this country. I shall, therefore, impress on your mind, 
that there are already six different species of Grouse found 
in the United States, and the territories belonging to it, 
viz. the Ruffed Grouse — the Pinnated Grouse — the Spot- 
ted Grouse — the Dusky Grouse— the Sharp-tailed Grouse 
— and the Cock of the Plains. The most common on 
this list is the Ruffed Grouse, and is much better known 
throughout the country than any of the other species. It 
is that bird which is usually called and known as the Phea- 
sant, and is found in every state of the Union, more par- 
ticulai'ly in the northern, middle, and western states. It 
is a bird at all times difficult of access, except when it is 
met in an undisturbed state in the wilds of the country, 
and it sees man for the first time; but in populous parts, it 
generally seeks the most dense thickets of low lands, and 
difficult parts of hills and mountains, — and its shy and 
solitary disposition renders it one of the most difficult 
birds to shoot, as it always shuns the traveller or sports- 
man, and seeks shelter in places almost inaccessible. 
To hunt the Ruffed Grouse successfully, two persons 
should be employed, and with but one good, careful old 
dog, that will not run far ahead; and as these birds mostly 
resort to swampy thickets in the midst of woods, it will be 
well for one to go on each side of the same, while the dog 
is cautiously hunting the centre. You must not suffer 
your dog to range too far from you, as the bird, before it 
