THE OSTRICH AND ITS KINDRED 
5 
associating together, and find- 
ing a male ready to under- 
take the office of incubation? 
It is obvious that there must 
at first be some degree of 
association between at least 
two females, otherwise the 
eggs would remain scattered 
over the wide plains, at dis- 
tances far too great to allow 
of the male .collecting them 
into one nest : some . . . have 
believed that the scattered 
eggs were deposited for the 
young birds to feed on. This 
can hardly be the case . . . 
because huachos, although 
often found addled and 
putrid, are generally whole.” 
The Ostrich 
The Ostrich is the 
giant amongst living birds, 
the full-grown male standing 
some 8 feet high, and weighing 
about 300 lbs. It is flight- 
less, the wings being smaller, 
in proportion to the size of the body, than in the rhea. But the energy which in other birds is 
employed in sustaining flight in the ostrich is expended in running, so that it has reached 
a high degree of speed — no less, in fact, than twenty-six miles an hour. When at full speed, 
it is generally believed the ostrich derives no small help from the wings, which are used all-Wise. 
Nor is this belief by an}^ means a modern one, for all of us must be familiar with Job’s 
observations on this subject: ‘‘What time she lifteth up her wings on high, she sc:)rneth 
the horse and his rider.” The wings are never used in running at full speed, but re of 
much service in turning, “ enabling the bird to double abruptly, even when going at top 
speed.” In justice to the older observers, however, it must be remarked that ostriche do run 
with raised wings, but only at the commencement of the run, or in covering a short distance, 
when the pace may be considerable ; but if circumstances demand “ full speed ahead,” they are 
held close to the body, where they offer the least resistance to speed. 
With the gradual perfection of its running powers, there has followed a gradual change in 
the form of the leg. This change has taken place by reduction in the number of the toes. 
Of the original five with which its ancestors began life only two now remain — the third 
and fourth. The third is of great size, having apparently waxed great at the expense of the 
other toes, a growth which seems to be still in progress, inasmuch as the fourth toe is 
undoubtedly dwindling. It is very small, and gives unmistakable signs of growing smaller, 
since it has now become nailless. When it has quite disappeared, the ostrich, like the horse, 
will have but a single toe on each foot — ■ the third. The dainty, mincing step of the ostrich is a 
delight to watch, and, thanks to the Zoological Gardens, this can be done. 
Th' ostrich, like its cousin of South America, the rhea, commonly associates with herds 
of the larger mammalia. On the South African veldt the companions of the ostrich are the 
zebra, wildebeest, and hartebeest, just as on the pampas of South America the rheas are 
found associated with herds of deer and guanaco. 
OSTRICH STANDING BESIDE HER EGGS 
In a vjtld state both cock and hen take part in the preparation of the nest 
