faster than a racehorse, there is no reason to believe they could hold out so long.

From ancient writers we learn, that whole nations have acquired the name of Struthiophagi (ostrich-eaters) from the preference which they had manifested for the flesh of this bird. Apicius has recommended a peculiar sauce for the ostrich, which shows at least that it was eaten among the Romans, and at a single feast the emperor Heliogabalus was served with the brains of six hundred of these animals. Even at this period, some of the savage nations of Africa hunt them not only for their plumage, but for their flesh also, which they consider as a dainty. They sometimes also breed these birds tame, to eat the young ones, of which the female is said to be the greatest delicacy. The skin of the ostrich is so thick, that it is used for leather by the Arabians; and of the eggs drinking cups are made. The value of the plumage is well known in most countries of Europe.

As the spoils of the ostrich are thus valuable, it is not to be wondered at that man has become their most assiduous pursuer. For this purpose, the Arabians train up their best and fleetest horses, and hunt the ostrich still in view. Perhaps, of all varieties of the chase, though the most laborious, it is yet the most entertaining. As soon as the hunter comes within sight of his prey, he puts his horse to a gentle gallop, so as to keep the ostrich still in sight; yet not so as to terrify him from the plain into the mountains. Upon observing himself, therefore, pursued at a distance, the bird begins to run at first, but gently, either insensible of his danger, or sure of escaping. In this situa tion he somewhat resembles a man at full speed; his wings, like two arms, keep working with a motion correspondent to that of his legs; and his speed would very soon snatch him from the view of his pursuers, but, unfortunately for the silly creature, instead of going off in a direct line, he takes his course in circles; while the hunters still make a small course within, relieve each other, meet him at unexpected turns, and keep him thus still employed, still followed, for two or three days together. At last, spent with fatigue and famine, and finding all power of escape impossible, he endeavors to hide himself from those enemies he cannot avoid, and covers his head in the sand, or the first thicket he meets. Sometimes, however, he attempts to face his pursuers; and, though in general, the most gentle animal in nature, when driven to desperation, he defends himself with his beak, his wings, and his feet. Such is the force of his motion, that a man would be utterly unable to withstand him in the shock.

The Struthiophagi had another mode of capturing these animals. They disguised themselves in the skin of an ostrich, and putting one of their arms through the neck, they imitated all its motions. By this means they are ⚫ said to have enabled themselves to approach and take them at pleasure. L the same manner the savages of America disguise themselves as a roebuck, in order to surprise that animal.

Ostriches are sometimes bred in flocks, for they are easily tamed. In this domesticated state they play and frisk about with vivacity, and are tractable and familiar towards those who are acquainted with them. To strangers, however, they are often fierce, and will attack them with fury, making an angry hissing noise, and having their throats inflated, and their mouths open. During the night they frequently utter a discordant cry, which bears a resemblance to the distant roaring of a lion, or the hoarse tone of a bear or an ox when in great agony.

THE TOUYOU, OR AMERICAN OSTRICH.1

It is chiefly found in Guiana, along the banks of the Oroonoko, in the inland provinces of Brazil and Chili, and the vast forests that border on the mouth of the river Plata. Many other parts of South America were known to have them; but as man multiplied, these large and timorous birds either fell beneath their superior power, or fled from their vicinity. It is said to be found in Patagonia, and the natives are represented as chasing it on horseback, and killing it with clubs when they approach sufficiently near.

The touyou, though not so large as the ostrich, is only second to it in magnitude. It is by much the largest bird in the New Continent, and is generally found to be six feet high, measuring from its head to the ground. Its legs are three feet long. Its body is of an oval form, and appears entirely round. It is covered from the back and rump with long feathers; these feathers are gray upon the back, and white on the belly, and it has no other tail. It goes very swiftly, and seems assisted in its motion by a kind of tubercle behind, like a heel, upon which, on plain ground, it treads very securely; in its course it uses a very odd kind of action, lifting up one wing, which it keeps elevated for a time; till letting it drop, it lifts up the other; it runs with such swiftness, that the fleetest dogs are sometimes thrown out in the pursuit. One of them, finding itself surrounded by the hunters, darted among the dogs with such fury, that they made way to avoid its rage; and it escaped, by its amazing velocity, in safety to the mountains. It defends itself with its feet, and calls its young by a kind of hiss.

Nieremberg relates, that, during incubation, they generally make a false nest at some distance from the true one; in this they lay two eggs, which are afterwards broken by the old bird, and by attracting a number of flies,

1 Rhea Americana, TEMM. This is the only one of the genus. Its characteristics are a bill straight, short, soft, depressed at the base, a little compressed at the tip, which is obtuse; lower mandible much depressed, flexible, and rounded at the tip; nostrils on the lateral surface of the bill, large, longitudinally cleft and open; legs long, with three toes before, and a callosity behind; wings short, with feathers more or less strong, and terminating in a spur.

beetles, &c., afford a means of sustenance to the young. This, however, may be considered as apocryphal.

When first hatched, the young ones are familiar, and follow the first person they meet. I have been followed myself, says Wafer, by many of these young ostriches, which at first are extremely harmless and simple; but, as they grow older, they become more cunning and distrustful; and run so swift, that a greyhound can scarcely overtake them. Their flesh, in general,

is good to be eaten, especially if they be young. It would be no difficult matter to rear up flocks of these animals tame, particularly as they are naturally so familiar; and they might be found to answer domestic purposes, like the hen or the turkey. Their maintenance could not be expensive, if, as Narborough says, they live entirely upon grass. Like the ostrich, the touyou is indiscriminately voracious; swallowing stones, iron, and other hard substances.

THIS bird has been so scientifically described by Mr Bennett, from specimens in the Tower, that we cannot do better than to adopt his description. "The distinctive generic characters of the New Holland emeu, which forms part of the ostrich family, and is, with the sole exception of the ostrich, the largest bird known to exist, consist in the flattening of its bill from above downwards, instead of from side to side; in the absence of the bony process which crests the head of the cassowary, of the wattles which depend from his neck, and of the long spurlike shafts which arm his wings; and in the equal, or nearly equal, length of all his claws. The emeus, however, agree with the cassowaries in the number of their toes, three. on each foot, all of them directed forwards, and extremely thick and short, the posterior toe, which is common in most of the order, being in them entirely wanting; in the excessive shortness of their wings, which do not even, as is the case with the ostriches, assist them in running, much less in flight, of which, in common with the latter, they are absolutely incapable; and in the structure of their feathers, which are for the most part double, each tube being divided near its origin into two shafts, the barbs of which are soft, downy, and distinct from each other, and assume at a distance rather the appearance of a silky covering of hair, than that of the common plumage of birds.

"The New Holland bird has the head and upper part of the neck thinly covered with slender black feathers; the space around the ears being alone left bare, and exhibiting, as well as the neck and throat, which are but

'Dromaius Nova Hollandiæ, SHAW. This is the only individual of the genus. Its characteristics are, bill straight, the edges greatly depressed, tip rounded; head feathered; throat naked; feet three-toed, the toes placed before; wings very short.

partially concealed by the scattered plumage with which they are provided, the blue tinge of the skin. The general color of the skin is grayish brown above, with a more plentiful intermixture of the gray, and a consequently lighter tinge beneath. The young are striped longitudinally with brown and gray. Their bill is black, and their legs are remarkably thick and of a dull brown. The great length of the latter and of the neck, and the erect attitude and quiet demeanor of these birds, which sometimes attain as much as seven feet in height, give them altogether a noble and imposing appearance. They were formerly common in the neighborhood of Botany Bay, subsisting, like the rest of their tribe, upon vegetable substances, chiefly fruits. They are extremely wild, and run with great swiftness when pursued; outstripping, it is said, the fleetness of the greyhound. Like the kanguroos, they are sometimes hunted by the colonists as articles of food; and their flesh is stated to have much of the flavor of beef. The quantity of provision supplied by one of these birds is by no means inconsiderable."

THE GREAT BUSTARD1

Is the largest land bird that is a native of Europe. It was once much more numerous than it is at present; but the increased cultivation of the country, and the extreme delicacy of its flesh, have greatly thinned the species; so that the time may come when it may be doubted whether so large a bird was ever bred there. It is probable that, long before this, the bustard would have been extirpated, but for its peculiar manner of feeding. It inhabits only the open and extensive plain, where its food lies in abundance, and where every invader may be seen at a distance.

The weight of this bird varies considerably; some have been found of not more than ten pounds, others have been found of twenty-seven and even thirty. The female is not more than half the size of the male. The bustard is distinguished from the ostrich, the touyou, the cassowary, and the dodo, by its wings, which, although disproportioned to the size of its body, yet serve to elevate it in the air, and enable it to fly, though with some difficulty; they are generally about four feet from the tip of one to the other. The neck is a foot long, and the legs a foot and a half. The head and neck of the male are ash colored; the back is barred transversely with black, and bright rust color. The greater quill feathers are black, the belly white, and the tail, which consists of twenty feathers, is marked with broad black

bars.

1 Otis tarda, LIN. The genus Otis has the bill straight, conical, compressed; tip of the upper mandible slightly arched; nostrils open, oval, approximated, but remote at the base; legs long, naked above the knee; three toes before, short, united at their base, and bordered by a membrane; wings of medium length; third quill feather longest.