The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1880-07-22
The Ostrich's Digestive Powers.

Ostriches have SO frequently given
extraordinary proof OF their immunity
from indigestion that men have ceasedy
to be surprised at the museums which
are periodically removed from the
stomachs of dead specimens. There is
still, however, room for good deal of
establishment and for some reflection.
In their anxiety to secure as much meat
as they can in as short a time as possible,
they swallow their food, and any foreign
matter that may be adhering to it, pre-.
cipitatcly, and are consequently very
uncomfortable and melancholy. Birds
are liable to the same affection, and there
is NO installing the inconvenience, tend
ing to low spirits, which our Gagged pets
undergo when they have been over.in-
dulging in the pleasures of the table.
The "sparrow-camcI," however, hardly
deserves to be called bird, and it GER
tainly is not q beast, so that analogies
drawn from either order a.e scarcely
applicable.
At the first settlement of the world,
according to Oriental tradition, all the
creatures upon it were called up by AL
lah to be taught their several habits of
life and to have their places upon the
earth allotted to them. The birds ap-
peared, "the total kind of birds, in
orderly array on wing" but the ostrich,
seeing all the little feathered things 60
flying by, scorned to join them, and 4,
came to the conclusion that he couldF
not be a bird. In his pride he
disregarded the summons, saying to him.
self, Il suspect am beast" 1t was,
however, the turn Of the beasts next,
and to the dismay of the ostrich he
found that they had all of them four
legs apiece; but, remarking they had 40
plumes, he recovered his self-compla.
cency. at is evident now," said he,
that l am not beast; SO it is prob.
able l am an angel" When the beasts
had dispersed, the ostrich found himself
alone with the bat and Allah, looking
out upon the great parade ground, saw
these two standing together in expecta-
ton Of special summons but he put
a public affront upon them by pretend
ing not to notice them, and retired with
out assigning either of them any fixed
place in creation. The bat has been
so ashamed of himself ever since that he
only goes abroad when it is getting dark,
and the ostrich withdrew into the soil
tude of the desert. There it behaves as
it likes, and regardless of the proprie;
ties. Though bird, it has never tried
to make Il nest; and, though no. a
beast, it lows and roars like one. 1t
lays eggs like fowl, but crops the
heritage like cattle; wears hair on it's
back, though it has only two legs, and
is altogether an irregular and self-opin
donated person. Taat such creature
should 60 picknicking off an ironmong
er's stock-in-trade is, therefore, no more
than might be expected from its eccen-
trio habits, and the pretense that it eats
tenpenny nails to help its digestion can
only be accepted as discreditable eva
sion of the truth.
In Rome the other day an ostrich
managed to sutfocate itself by pushing
its neck through between two bars,
swallowing bunch of keys that had
been dropped outside, and then trying
to get its head back again. The result
was that it was choked, and on its stom-
ach being examined for missing prop.
erty, the usual assortment of stones,
nails, coins and beads was discovered,
with, however, the interesting addition
of silver medal of the Pope and the
cross of an Italian order. BY whom or
when these honorable decorations were
conferred" upon the sparrow camel, no
one knows but the ostrich, it seems,
didits best to show its appreciation Of the
distinction accorded it, and swallowed
both the medal and the order. 1t had
no button-hole from which to display its
honors, but at all events it had coat
to its stomach London Telegraph.