OSTRICH. 
467 
He was much diverted with the strut it assumed, 
when in the heat of the day it passed along the 
sunny side of the house, at the same time fanning 
itself with its expanded wings, and seeming at every 
turn to admire and be in love with its shadow. He 
adds, that although these birds appeared tame and 
tractable to such persons of the family as were 
familiar to them, yet they were often very fierce to 
strangers, especially the poorer sort, whom they 
would attempt to run down, and injure with their 
feet. They are capable of striking with great force ; 
and the inward claw being exceedingly strong, 
pointed, and angular, was the occasion of a melan- 
choly event to which the Doctor was witness: for, 
during his stay, an unfortunate person had his belly 
ripped open by a stroke from one of these animals. 
Where ostriches abound they frequently do great 
damage to the farmers, by coming in flocks into 
their fields and destroying the ears of wheat, which 
they do so completely as to leave nothing but the 
bare straw behind ; and they sometimes commit the 
greatest devastation before they are discovered. 
The body of the bird is not higher than the corn, 
and its long neck is bent down while it devours the 
ears, so that it cannot well be seen at a distance ; 
but on the least noise it rears its head, and can thus 
foresee its danger in time to make its escape, which 
it generally contrives to do before the farmer can 
get within gun-shot. 
Professor Thunberg says, It is impossible to over- 
2 H 2 
