The Arkansas advocate., 1834-12-26

S,r3ssess of He Ostfich. bird most celebrated for feetness of running, Is the ostrich, or bird camel ssisiitit;o Came tits,) as 1t may well be named. What tune she lifieth up herself on high,'' says Job, she seorneth the horse and his IT. der" According to Dr. Shaw, the wings serve her both for sails and oars, whilst her feet, which have only two toes, aiid are ro. unlike the eamel's, can bear great fatigue. sthodgh the ostrich is universally admitted to go faster than the fleetest horse, yet the % sss ii horseback s;eas:si;se te ra. these birds down, their feathers being valuable, and their flesh not to be despised.
 The best horses are trained for the chase. When the hunter has started bis game, he puts his horse upon gentle gallop, so as to keep inc ostrich in sight, without cos s,laing too near 10 alarm t, and put 1t to it's full speed. Upon observing itself pursued, therefore, II begins to run at first gently, its wings like two arms, keeping alternate mo- ton with its feet. Ii seldom runs in a di- rect line; but like the hare, donblcs, or rather courses in circular manner; while the hunters, taking the diameter, or tracing a similar circle, meet the bird at unexpeet- ed turns, and with less fatigue to the horses. This chase is often continued for a day or two, when the poor ostrich IS starved or exhausted, and finding all power of escape impossible, 1t endeavors to hide itself from the enemies 1t cannot avoid, running into some thieket or burying it's head in the sand; the hunters then rush in at full speed, lead- ing as much as possible against the wind, and kill the birds with clubs, lest the feath- CTS should be seiled with blood.
 MT. Adamson saw two tame ostrches which had been kept two years at the fac- tory of Podo, on the south bank of the Niger. They were so tame,n he says, ''that two little blacks, mounted both to- gether on the back of the largest. No sooner did he feel their weight, than he be- gan to run as fast as ever he could, till he carried them several times round thev village; and 1t was impossible to stop him other wise than by obstructing the passage. This sight pleased me so well, that would have It repeated; and to try their strength, made full grown negro mount the smallest, and two others the largest. This burden did not seem to be at all disproportioned to their strength. Al first they went a mode rate gallop; when they expanded their wings as 1t were to catch the wind, and they mov- ed with such heetness that they seemed to be off the ground"
 Every body must some time or other have seen partridge run, and must know gthere Is norman, whatever, able to keep up with 1t; and 1t is easy to imagine that if this bird had longer step, is speed would be considerably augmented. The ostrich moves like the partridge, with both these advantages, and 1 am satisfied that those am speaking of would have distanced the bHeetest race-horses that ever were bred in England. It is true they would not hold out so long as a horsa, but without all doubt would be able to perform the race in less time. have frequently beheld this sight, which is capable of giving one an idea of the prodgious strength of an ostrich and of showing what use 1t might be of, had we but the method of breaking 1t, and manag- 1t as we do horse." The traveller Moore. mentions that he saw a man ourneying mounted on an ostrich; though both this and the instance given by Mir. Adanlson show the circumstance to be of unusuai os- currence.- Faculties of Birds.