LESSON LXIII
ex ist'ing, living.
mas'sive large and solid.
hy e'na, a beast of prey.
cau'tion, great care.
strat'a gem, a secret way; trick.
de pends', trusts to.
mar'vel ous, wonderful.
jack'al, a beast of prey.
pro cure', obtain.
a dorn', make beautiful.
THE OSTRICH.
The ostrich is the largest of all birds now existing, and is found chiefly in the sandy deserts of Africa and Arabia.
A full-grown African ostrich stands from seven to nine feet in height, to the top of its head, and will weigh from two to three hundred pounds.
The body of the ostrich is large and massive; the legs are long, measuring four feet or more, and the neck is of about the same length as the legs.
The head is small for so large a bird; but its feet with their two great toes are of good size, and possess astonishing strength.
An ostrich's beak is short and blunt; its neck slender and covered with gray down. Its eyes are large and bright, and the sense of sight so keen that it can readily see a distance of from four to six miles. It hears and sees equally well, and can only be approached by stratagem.
The feathers of the male ostrich are of a glossy black, with the exception of the large plumes of the wing-feathers, which in both the male and female are snowy white.
To procure these beautiful white plumes is the chief object in hunting the ostrich. Those plumes when plucked are sent to foreign countries, and used to adorn ladies' hats, and for various other purposes.