OSTRICHES 
295 
CH. Xl] 
rush with jointed stem and tuberous root, bean-pods 
from different kinds of thorn-trees, and the leaves and 
especially the seed-vessels of a bush, the seed-vessels 
being enclosed in cases or pods so thorny that they 
pinched our fingers, and made us wonder at the bird’s 
palate. Cock and hen brood the eggs alternately. We 
found the heart and liver of the ostrich excellent eating ; 
the eggs were very good also. As the cock died, it 
uttered a kind of loud, long-drawn grunting boom that 
was almost a roar. Its beautiful white wing plumes were 
almost unworn. A full-grown wild ostrich is too wary 
to fall into the clutches of a lion or leopard, save by 
accident, and it will master any of the lesser carnivora; 
but the chicks are preyed on by jackals and wild cats, 
and of course by the larger beasts of prey also ; and the 
eggs are eagerly sought by furred and feathered foes 
alike. Seemingly trustworthy settlers have assured me 
that vultures break the tough shells with stones. The 
cock and hen will try to draw their more formidable 
foes away from the nest or the chicks by lingering so 
near as to lure them in pursuit, and anything up to the 
size of a hyena they will attack and drive away, or even 
kill. The terrific downward stroke of an ostrich’s leg is 
as dangerous as the kick of a horse. The thump will 
break a rib or backbone of any ordinary animal, and in 
addition to the force of the blow itself, the big nails 
may make a ghastly rip. Both cock and hen lead about 
the young brood and care for it. The two ostriches I 
shot were swarming with active parasitic flies, a little 
like those that were on the lions I shot in the Sotik. 
Later the porters brought us in several ostrich chicks. 
They also brought two genet kittens, which I tried to 
raise, but failed. They were much like ordinary kittens, 
with larger ears, sharper noses, and longer tails, and 
