The Ostrich (_Struthio Camelus_) is supposed to be the Benonim, Jaanah,
and Joneh, mentioned in the Bible. It is the _Thar Edsjanmel_ or
camel-bird of the Persians, of which everybody knows something and of
which nobody knows all.
With the general appearance of the bird, I presume that my young readers
are already acquainted, and shall therefore say little or nothing about
it.
The stumpy-footed, two-toed, long-legged, kicking creature has wings
that are apparently more useful to man than to itself. In fact, the
possession of these apparently superfluous appendages is generally the
cause of its being hunted by man and by him destroyed.
It is one of those unfortunate creatures, persecuted to gratify the
vanity of other perhaps equally unfortunate creatures, called
fashionable ladies. A full-grown ostrich is usually between seven and
eight feet in height, but individuals have occasionally been met with
measuring more than ten.
Its nest is merely a hole in the sand, about three feet in diameter, and
usually contains twenty eggs. Half this number may be seen lying
outside the nest, and elsewhere scattered over the plain. These are
supposed to be intended as food for the young when they have first
broken the shell. This supposition, however, is not founded upon the
observation of any fact to justify a belief in it.
Job (chapter 39), speaking of the ostrich, says, she "Leaveth her eggs
in the earth, and warmeth them in the dust, and forgetteth that the foot
may crush them, or that the wild beast may break them. She is hardened
against her young ones as though they were not hers: her labour is in
vain without fear." This account does not altogether correspond with
modern observation.
In the heat of the day, when the eggs are under the burning sun, the
ostrich can well afford to leave them for a while and go off in quest of
food. At night, when it is cool and the eggs need protection, the bird
is ever to be found doing its duty, and the male ostrich is often seen
in charge of the young brood, and assiduously guarding them. At such
times, if molested, the old birds have been known to act in the same way
as the partridge or plover, by shamming lame, so as to mislead the
intruder.
From much more now known of the ostrich, it cannot be said to be wanting
in paternal or maternal instincts; and the idea of its being so has only
originated in the fact of their nests being so often found deserted
during the hot hours of the day.
The food of the ostrich generally consists of seeds and leaves of
various plants. Owing to the nature of the dry desert soil on which it
is obtained, the only species it can procure are of a hard, dry texture;
and it is supposed to be for the purpose of assisting nature in their
digestion that the bird will swallow pebbles, pieces of iron, or other
mineral substances. Some have been disembowelled, in whose stomachs was
found a collection so varied as to resemble a small curiosity shop or
geological museum.
Stones have been taken out of the stomach of an ostrich each weighing
more than a pound avoirdupois!
When this great bird is going at full run,--for of course it cannot
fly,--its stride is full twelve feet in length, and its rate of speed
not less than twenty-five miles to the hour. It cannot be overtaken by
a horseman, and its capture is generally the result of some stratagem.
It always feeds on the open plain, where it can obtain an unobstructed
view, and be warned in good time of the approach of an enemy. It
possesses a sharp vision, and from the manner its eyes are set in its
small, disproportioned head, held eight or ten feet above the surface of
the ground, it can take in the whole circle of the horizon at a glance.
On this account the utmost caution is required in approaching it.
In one respect the author of the book of Job has closely followed nature
in his description of this bird; for "God hath deprived her of wisdom,
neither hath he imparted to her understanding."
The ostrich is a stupid creature, and is often captured by taking
advantage of its stupidity. Nature seems to have placed in its little
head the belief that in running to the leeward it will encounter some
impassable barrier, and be overtaken by whatever pursues it.
Ostrich-hunters are well acquainted with this peculiarity, and on
approaching a flock they always ride to the windward. This manoeuvre is
observed by the birds, who believe that an attempt is being made to cut
off their retreat in the only direction in which it can be successfully
made. They immediately start on a course which, if continued, must
cross that taken by the hunters. Owing to the greater distance it has
to run, the latter often get near enough to bring the bird down with a
shot. Were the silly bird to retreat in the opposite direction, it
would be perfectly safe from pursuit.
The feathers of the ostrich are beautifully adapted to the warm climate
of the desert country it inhabits. They allow a free circulation of the
air around its skin, while giving shade to its body. The white plumes
of the male bring the greatest price, and sometimes sell for 12 pounds
the pound, Troy weight, of only twelve ounces. The black feathers
seldom fetch more than a fourth of the price.
Two species of ostrich are found on the great plains of South America,
and one other in Australia. None of these attain the gigantic
proportions of the African, nor are their plumes at all comparable in
beauty or value to those of the _Struthio Camelus_.
Ostriches were once a favourite article of food with the Romans; and it
is stated that the brains of six hundred of these birds were consumed at
one feast. The flesh is still eaten, but only by the native Africans.
The bird possesses great strength, and can run at a rapid rate with a
man mounted on its back.
It was undoubtedly designed by its Creator for some other purpose than
that of contributing to the gratification of man's vanity.
Ostriches are easily domesticated. This is done to some extent by the
Arabians, who breed and bring them up for the sake of the feathers, as
also to procure them as an article of food.
But the more enlightened people of the present day make no other effort
to ascertain their utility, than to keep a pair or two of them shut up
in a public garden for children and their nurses to gaze at.