Order  VI.  STRUTHIONES  Latk^ 
^^^^braces 
S^nerally 
^ series  of  birds,  ■which  are  mostly  of  large  size,  with  the  Wings  much  ahbi’e'viated,  and 
incapable  of  affording  the  means  of  flight. 
first 
Family  j 
STRUTHIONID^,  or  Ostriches, 
have  the  T*'! 
ati^  . ^ ^ various  forms ; the  Wings  "very  short,  or  imperfect ; and  the  Toes  short,  broad,  unequal, 
ying  ft-Q^  number. 
S„bfe„ily_ 
‘he  BiU 
^^^eriorly. 
STRUTHIONIN^.,  or  Ostriches, 
broad,  depressed,  and  rounded  in  front ; the  Toes  two  or  three  in  number,  and  all  placed 
broarl 
^hat  of  ilepressed,  with  the  culmen  flattened,  and  the  tip  strong,  rounded,  and  overlapping 
and  naandible  ; the  nostrils  placed  in  a broad  membranous  groove,  near  the  middle  of  the 
plumes  ’^P^ning  oval.  Wings  short,  imperfect,  and  furnished  with  long,  bending,  and  soft 
'Covered  • ’^nderate,  and  composed  of  curved  pendent  feathers.  Tarsi  very  long,  robust,  and 
shopj;  ^^^agonal  scales,  except  in  the  front  near  the  toes,  where  the  scales  are  transverse. 
^1‘Oad  1 ’’nbust,  the  outer  short  and  much  padded,  the  inner  one  not  apparent  ; the  claws  short, 
’ flattened. 
Sthuthio  Linn.]' 
This 
especj*!!®  of  all  known  birds,  inhabits  the  open  plains  of  Africa,  where  it  is  sometimes  observed  in  large 
'^ight  of  fli®  herbage  and  vegetation  are  abundant  and  fresh,  as  these  form  their  ehief  food.  The  gieat 
^PproachijjQ,  q onables  it  to  perceive  at  a considerable  distance,  over  the  tall  herbage,  all  objects  that  may  be 
When  alarmed,  it  usually  escapes  with  a stately  gait,  and  is  soon  out  of  sight,  though  its  pace  appeals 
* Cursores  of  Lacepede,  and  Brevipennes  of  Cuvier, 
t Established  by  Linnseus  in  173.5  (^Systemn  Naturo'). 
