Ostrich

OSTRICH in Latin, Struthio. ‘Tis often mentioned in Scripture. Moses forbids the Use of it to the Hebrews¹. Interpreters are not agreed about the Signification of the Hebrew Word Jaanah², which the Seventy, St. Jerom, Aquila, Symmachus, and Theodotion have rendered by Ostrich. Several of the Moderns take it for the Owl, Ulula. We have proposed some Conjectures upon Isai. xiii, 21. to prove it is the Swan. See Job xxx. 29. Isai. xxxiv. 13. xliii. 20. Jerem. l. 39. Lam. iv. 3 Mic. i. 8.

We find in Job xxxix. 13. another Hebrew Word Rhenanim, which is translated Ostrich. Others take it for a Peacock, But able Interpreters³ apply the Word Noza⁴ to the Ostrich, which is read in the same Verse. And this is the Opinion we have followed in the Commentary upon Job, The Marks which Job ascribes to the Noza agree very well to the Ostrich.

This Animal is ranged among Birds. It is very large, has very long Legs, its Wings very short, the Neck about the Length of four or five Spans. The Feathers of its Wings are in great Esteem, and are used as an Ornament for Hats, Beds, Canopies. They are stained of several Colours, and made into very pretty Tufts. Their Plumage is white and black; the Females have a Mixture of grey, black and white. They are hunted by way of Course, for they never fly; but they use their Wings to assist them in running more swiftly.

Xenophon relates, that the Army of young Cyrus found many Ostriches near the Euphrates; that they chased them with the swiftest Horses in the Army, but could never overtake them. ‘Tis said also, that when they find themselves pursued, they take up Stones between their cloven Claws, which they throw at those that follow them, with as much Violence as the strongest Man could do,

‘Tis said that the Ostrich digests Iron, but this is only a popular Error. ‘Tis true indeed that it swallows bits of Iron or of Brass, if they are thrown to it, or if it meets with them, in the same manner as other Birds will swallow small Stones or Gravel; not to feed themselves with them, but to assist in digesting and comminuting their Food. In the Stomach of an Ostrich, which was dissected by the Academy of Sciences, they found upwards of seventy French Farthings, most of which were worn, scratch’d, and three Parts consumed away, probably by rubbing against each other.

There is a prodigious Quantity of Ostriches in Ethiopia. The Ostrich lays her Eggs in the Month of June, upon the Ground, covers them with Sand, and then forsakes them. Afterwards the Sun hatches them. ‘Tis probably upon this Account, that they are made the Symbol of Cruelty Jer. iv. Lam. iii. Job xxxix. 13, &c.and Forgetfulness. Jeremiah says, Even the Sea-Monsters draw out the Breast, they give suck to their young ones. The Daughter of my People is become cruel, like the Ostriches in the Wilderness. Job at length sets forth the Cruelty and Forgetfulness of the Ostrich in these Words, Gavest thou the goodly Wings unto the Peacocks, or Wings and Feathers unto the Ostrich? Which 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 hardned against her young ones, as though they were not hers; her Labour is in vain without Fear. Because God hath deprived her of Wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her Understanding. What time she lifteth up herself on high, and scorneth the Horse and his Rider.

Here is in short almost all that we are told of the Ostrich. It lays its Eggs upon the Ground, hides them under the Sand, and the Sun hatches them. All this is not incredible. We know that in Egypt they hatch a vast Quantity of Eggs every Day in Ovens made on Purpose, and heated to a certain Degree of Heat. As the Ostrich is extreamly large and heavy, it would break its Eggs if it were to sit upon them like other Birds. She therefore hides them in the Sand, watches them, and hatches them as we may say with her Eye, according to Vansleb⁵. The Male and Female stay with them alternately, and while one of them goes to seek its Provision, the other does not leave Sight of them. However, if either of them should be driven away, or go too far from their Nest, they could not find their Eggs again. And ‘tis probably this that has given Occasion to what is said of their Cruelty and Forgetfulness.

Among that great Number of Eggs that the Female lays, (for we are told that she brings ten, twelve, fifteen, or twenty,) it seldom happens but that some of them miscarry. The Ostrich breaks these, and with the Worms that are bred from thence, she feeds her Young. Lastly, Job says, that God has deprived the Ostrich of Understanding. This is justify’d by what is related of this Bird. She suffers herself to be taken by a Man cover’d with the Skin of an Ostrich⁶, who puts his Arm into the Skin of the Neck of the Animal, lifts it up on high, and imitates the Motion of the Head. Others say⁷, that when she is pursued by the Hunters, she hides her Head in the Sand, continues there, and thinks herself secure. Pliny says, that she thrusts her Head in the Bushes, and there remains as if her whole Body were well concealed. Lastly, they say that she is naturally deaf⁸, which does not a little contribute to her Stupidity.

She lifteth up herself on high, and scorneth the Horse and his Rider. The Ostrich is very lofty; they made a Dissection of an Ostrich at the Academy of Sciences, which was seven Foot and an half high, from the top of the Head to the Ground. Pliny says⁹, that she exceeds in Stature the Heighth of a Man on Horseback. As to its Swiftness it is agreed, that there are few Horses that can overtake them by fair Running. We have mentioned before the Adventure that Xenophon speaks of.

Moses forbids the Use of Ostriches Flesh, at least our Translators will have it so. It is certain they eat them in Peru, and in Africa, where they are common. Marmol acknowledges, that their Flesh has an ill Scent, and is sticky, especially that of the Thighs; yet they eat of it however. When the People of Numidia take young ones, they rear them, make them fat, and lead them in Flocks into the Desart to feed. And when they are fat, they kill them and salt them. The Ethiopians also eat their Eggs, and take them for delicious Food These Eggs are generally of the Bigness of a large Bowl, and some not so big. The Ethiopians are said to make Cups of the Egg-shells. Pierius affirms, that they even make Caps of them, which they wear and value very much.

The Scripture speaks of the Ostrich in several other Places, but it is doubted whether the original Word really signifies this Bird or no. See the Commentators upon Isai. xiii. 21. xxxiv. 13. xliii. 20. Jer. l. 39. Mic. i. 8.

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