NATURAL HISTORY.

In the genus anser the neck is not so much elongated as in the typical swans, but considerably more so than in the other species of the family; the head is entirely covered with feathers; the bill is as short or shorter than the head, deeper than broad at its base, and narrowed towards its extremity; the nostrils, placed about the middle of the bill, are large, elliptical, and longitudinal; the wings are long, with the first and second quill-feathers longest; the legs are of greater comparative length than in the ducks, and placed so far forwards as to be beneath the centre of gravity; and the hinder toe is never furnished with a membranous fringe. The birds of which this group is composed are popularly known by the name of geese, and are usually intermediate in size between the typical swans and the common duck. They are all migratory in their habits, harmless in their pursuits, easily capable of domestication, and valuable both for their flesh and for their feathers.

The

time. Our authorities in this instance will be principally Hearne and Wilson; the one from necessity, and the other from choice, peculiarly attentive observers of the manners of the feathered tribes. Placed in circumstances that compelled him to rely for subsistence mainly and for many years on the produce of the chase, the former naturally acquired an extensive acquaintance with the manners of the animals by which he was surrounded. The latter, impelled by an enthusiastick admiration of nature, devoted all the energies of an active mind to the study of the birds of his adopted country, not merely in the cabinet or the menagerie alone, but in the fields, the forest, and the wilderness; and thus accumulated such a store of information on their native and unrestricted habits as could only have been acquired by the most zealous and unwearied perseverance.On such observers we rely with implicit confidence Unfortunately, they are not always to be found; and we then prefer passing lightly over the history of a species to the risk of misleading the reader by the repetition of false or exaggerated statements, which are too often the result of ignorant credulity or of an overheated imagination.

The Canadian goose, which we have selected for illustration as a well-marked and interesting species of the group, is somewhat larger than our common domesticated breed. It is also slenderer in its make and especially in its neck, which consequently approaches more nearly to that of the swans. Although commonly known by the name of Canaentire length of the bird is about three feet, and the da geese, these birds are by no means confined to expanse of its wings rather more than five. The that country, but extend their migrations from the back and wing-coverts are of a dull brown, with a lowest latitudes of the United States to the highest whitish tip to each of the feathers; the quill-feathers parallels that have yet been visited in the northern of the wings and tail black; the sides pale ashy-regions of America. Throughout the whole of this brown; and the upper part of the head and neck vast extent of territory they are familiarly known, as black, with a broad patch of white spreading from the harbingers of spring when passing to the north, the throat on either side over the lower part of the and the presage of approaching winter on their recheeks. By this latter character, which is extreme- turn. In the United States it is the popular belief ly obvious, this species may at all times be readily that their journeys are bounded by the great chain distinguished. Its bill is black; its iris dark hazel; of lakes, in the islands of which they are supposed and its legs and feet grayish-black or lead-coloured. to breed; but even on the shores of Hudson's bay There is little or no distinction in plumage between the two sexes.

they are still found to be proceeding northwards, and they rarely nest further south than 60°. Captain As the habits of this handsome goose have been Phipps mentions having seen wild geese at Spitzobserved with more than usual care, and are essen-bergen, in more than 80° of latitude; and Wilson trally the same with those of the other species, some little detail on the present occasion may obviate the necessity of recurring to the subject at any future

deems it "highly probable that they extend their migrations under the very pole itself, amid the silent desolation of unknown countries, shut out since cre

ation from the prying eye of man by everlasting and insuperable barriers of ice." It is not unlikely that this somewhat flighty passage suggested to a late high-flying projector, the possibility of reaching that long desired goal in a balloon, drawn by wild geese trained for the purpose.

number that a good shot may kill on a favourable day as high as two hundred. Some idea may be formed from this of the prodigious numbers that are annually destroyed. In spring they are exceedingly fond of society, and readily fly to the imitation of their call, when they fall an easy prey. At their The passage of the geese to the north commences moulting time also, which happens about August, with the breaking up of the ice, their first appear- they are taken with great ease; and the birds thus ance in Canada and on the shores of Hudson's bay, procured, together with their young, are frequently varying with the forwardness of the spring, from the domesticated. In captivity, they readily pair with middle of April to the latter end of May. Their the common gray goose, and the offspring are said flight is heavy and laborious, but moderately swift, to be larger than either. But on the approach of in a straight line when their number is but few, but spring these domesticated birds are always observed more frequently in two lines meeting in a point in to become restless and uneasy, frequently looking up front. The van is said to be always led by an old into the air, making attempts to fly away, and hail gander, in whose wake the others instinctively fol- ing every flock of wild geese that passes over their low. But should his sagacity fail in discovering the heads. As this salute is usually returned by the land-marks by which they usually steer, as some-flock, who fly towards the well-known sound, the time happens in foggy weather, the whole flock ap-tame geese are commonly made use of as decoys to pear in the greatest distress, and fly about in an ir-seduce the wild ones to their destruction.

regular manner, making a great clamour. In their flights they cross indiscriminately over land or water, differing in this respect from several other geese, which prefer making a circuit by water to traversing the land. They also pass far inland, instead of confining their course to the neighbourhood of the sea.

THE OSTRICH.
Struthio Camelus. LINN.

Unequalled in stature among birds, strikingly pe culiar in its form, singular in its habits, and eagerly So important is the arrival of the geese to the inhab- sought after as furnishing in its graceful plumes one itants of these northern regions, that the month in which of the most elegant among the countless vanities both they first make their appearance is termed by the of savage and civilized life, the ostrich has always Indians, as we are informed by Pennant, the goose excited a high degree of interest in the minds of moon. In fact not only the Indians, but the English the most superficial observers. But far more strongsettlers also, depend greatly upon these birds for ly does this feeling prevail in that of the reflecting their subsistence, and many thousands of them are naturalist, who does not regard this gigantick bird annually killed, a large proportion of which are salted as an isolated portion of the system of nature, but and barrelled for winter consumption. Many too perceives in it one of those remarkable links in the that are killed on their return, after the commence- complicated chain of the creation, too often invisible ment of the frost, are suffered to freeze, and are thus to human scrutiny, but occasionally too obvious to be kept as fresh provision for several months. Others, overlooked, which connect together the various classeither taken young or wounded, are frequently de-es of animated beings. With the outward form and tained in captivity during the winter. They seldom the most essential parts of the internal structure of breed in so low a latitude as Churchill River; but birds, it combines in many of its organs so close a Hearne states that he has occasionally met with resemblance to the ruminating quadrupeds as to their eggs in that neighbourhood. The females have received, from the earliest antiquity, an epirarely lay more than four eggs, but the whole num-taph indicative of that affinity which latter investigaber is generally hatched. They are said usually to tions have only tended more satisfactorily to estabselect an island in preference to the mainland, for lish. The name of camel-bird, by which it was the performance of the maternal office in greater known, not only to the Greeks and Romans, but safety. also to the nations of the East; the broad assertion of Aristotle that the ostrich was partly bird and partly quadruped; and that of Pliny, that it might almost be said to belong to the class of beasts; are but so many proofs of the popular recognition of a well-authenticated zoological truth.

As soon as the first frosts give notice of the return of the cold season, the geese commence their flight to the south, and arrive on the coast of New Jersey early in October. Here many of them remain during the winter, frequenting the shallow bogs and marshy islands, feeding on the tender green leaves The ostrich, in fact, is altogether destitute of the of a marine plant called the sea-cabbage, and on the power of flight, its wings being reduced to so low a roots of sedge, which they are frequently observed degree of development, as to be quite incapable of in the act of tearing up, and making occasional ex-sustaining its enormous bulk in the air. Its breastcursions to the beech for gravel. They swim well, and dive to a great distance; but except in very calm weather, rarely sleep upon the water, their roosting-place being mostly in the marshes.

bone is consequently flattened and uniform on its outer surface, like that of a quadruped, offering no trace of the elevated central ridge so generally characteristick of birds, and so conspicuously prominent In all their migrations they are marked out for de- in those which possess the faculty of supporting struction by the hand of man; but the swiftness of themselves long upon the wing. Its legs, on the their flight and the height to which they soar, render contrary, are excessively powerful; and are put in it necessary to resort to stratagem in order to decoy motion by muscles of extraordinary magnitude. This them within gunshot. Pennant gives a very interest-muscular power, together with the great length o ing account of the manner in which the Indians lie its limbs, enables it to run with incredible swiftness in wait for them on their arrival, and estimates the and to distance with little exertion the fleetest Ara

rope. Some species, however, belonging to the same group with this latter bird, extend themselves over a considerable portion both of Africa and Asia.

bian horses. The total want of feathers on every southern extremity of the western hemisphere. And part of these members, and their division into no finally, the bustard, receding it is true in some parmore than two toes connected at the base by a mem- ticulars from the typical form, still fairly may be rebrane, a structure not unaptly compared to the elon-garded as the representative of the family in Eugated and divided hoof of the camel, have always been considered striking points of resemblance between these animals; but there is another singularity in their external conformation which affords a still more remarkable coincidence. They are both furnished with callous protuberances on the chest and on the posterior part of the abdomen, on which they support themselves when at rest; and they both lie down in the same manner, by first bending the knees, then applying the anterior callosity, and lastly the posterior, to the ground. Add to this that, equally patient of thirst, and endowed with stomachs somewhat similar in structure, they are both formed for inhabiting, to a certain extent, the same arid deserts, and it will readily be granted that the affinity between these animals is not so fanciful as might at first be imagined.

The family of birds of which the ostrich forms the leading type, is remarkable for the wide dispersion of its several members; each of them vindicating as it were to itself a distinct portion of the earth. The ostrich, which is spread over nearly the whole of Africa, is scarcely known beyond the limits of the Arabian deserts; while the cassowary occupies its place amid the luxuriant vegetation of the Indian Archipelago. The emeu is confined to the great Australian continent, and the rhea to the VOL. I.-27

The African ostrich is generally from six to eight feet in height. The lower part of the neck of the male, and the whole of its body, are clothed with broad and short feathers of a deep black, intermingled with a few others which are nearly white and are barely visible except when the plumage is ruffled. In the female, the general colour of the feathers is of a grayish or ashy-brown slightly fringed with white. In both sexes the large plumes of the wings and tail are beautifully white. The bill is of the colour of horn, becoming blackish towards the point. The iris is deep hazel. On the head and neck the hair-down is clear white. In the young bird, these parts, as well as the muscles of the legs, are covered like the rest of the body, with ash-coloured feathers, which fall off after the first year and are not again produced.

The character of the ostrich, like that of other granivorous birds, is extremely mild. It never makes use of its great muscular power to attack, and rarely even in its own defence. It generally has recourse to flight, as its most effectual security against danger; and were its intelligence equal to its velocity, this resource would seldom fail of success.

The

chase of these birds is accounted one of the most add, is equally capable of a similar exertion, alskilful and difficult exercises both for the Arab and though not so frequently called upon to put it to the his horse, requiring at once the most unwearied test. Many of our readers will no doubt recollect patience, and the most reckless impetuosity. The the case of an American sailor who died in one of former is absolutely necessary in order to keep them the London hospitals, in 1809, and who had swalwithin sight, and to watch their motions, as they lowed in the ten previous years no fewer than thirwheel round in a circle of greater or less extent, ty-five clasp-knives. Fragments of these, to the and the latter to seize the favourable opportunity number of between thirty and forty, thirteen or fourof dashing down upon them in their course and dis- teen of them being evidently blades, were found in abling them, which is generally effected by means his stomach after death. "Some of these," says Dr of a stick thrown with dexterity between their legs. Marcet, in his account of the case, were remarkaA chase of this kind will frequently last from eight bly corroded and reduced in size, while others were to ten hours. When taken, they evince no ill hu- comparatively in a tolerable state of preservation." mour, and after a time, become in some degree do- More than one instance of a similar description has cile, suffering themselves to be mounted and ridden since been put on record. like horses. M. Adanson, who had several times witnessed this spectacle in Senegal, declares that even when mounted by two men, they outstripped in speed an excellent English horse. In running they always expand their wings, not, as has been erroneously imagined, to catch the wind in order to assist them in their flight, for they do it indifferently, whether running with or against the wind, but in all probability to counterbalance their great height by the extension of these lateral appendages.

Although the ostriches live together in large herds, the received opinion among naturalists is that the males attach themselves to a single_female.— There is some difficulty in determining the number of eggs laid by the latter; some travellers estimating it as high as eighty, while others reduce it to ten. Of this latter opinion was Le Vaillant, whose authority is decidedly entitled to the highest respect on every subject connected with the habits of birds, which he studied in a state of nature with the scrutiTheir natural food consists entirely of vegetable nizing eye of a philosopher, and the patient zeal of a substances, and more especially of seeds and the va- scientifick observer. He relates, however, a cirrious kinds of grain, in pursuit of which they fre- cumstance which once fell under his own observaquently commit the greatest devastations among the tion, and which tends, in some measure, to reconcile crops in cultivated countries. But so obtuse is the these discordant statements, while at the same time sense of taste in this bird, that it swallows with the it renders it questionable whether the ostrich is not. utmost indifference, sometimes even with greedi- occasionally at least, polygamous. Having disturbed ness, whatever comes in its way, whether of animal a female from a nest containing thirty-eight eggs of or mineral origin, partly for the purpose, as it should unequal size, and having thirteen others scattered seem, of distending its stomach, and partly also to around it, he concealed himself at a short distance, assist, like the gravel in the crops of our common and observed during the day that no less than four poultry, in the trituration of its food. Its fondness females successively taking part in the maternal offor the metals in particular was early remarked, and [fice. Towards the close of the evening a male also obtained for it the epithet of "the iron-eating os- took his share of the duty; and Le Vaillant remarks, trich." Popular credulity even went so far as to as- that he has frequently had opportunities of verifying sign to it the power of digesting these substances, the fact that the male bird sits as well as the female. and many are the illusions in our older writers to this In this case it would appear probable that several fancied property. As an amusing illustration of the females had deposited their eggs in one common prevalence of this belief, we may quote the following nest. The extraordinary number of eggs said to have characteristick lines from "The Boke of Philip been sometimes found may also perhaps be accountSparow," written by Master John Skelton, a lau- ed for by the fondness of the natives for these deli relled poet of the reign of King Henry the Eighth :-cacies, which they abstract from the nest by means

The estridge that will eate

An horshowe so greate

In the steade of meat

Such fervent heat

His stomake doth freat.

of a long stick, cautiously avoiding to introduce their hands, which they affirm would infallibly drive the bird to abandon the place. The ostrich naturally continues laying in order to complete her usual number; and in this way forty or fifty eggs may actually have been obtained from a single female.

We know not if the ostriches of these days are Within the torrid zone the eggs are merely laid in given to the eating of horseshoes; but unquestiona-the warm sand, the female sometimes sitting upon bly they have a particular fancy for keys, nails, and them during the night; but in general the rays of other such easily disposed of articles. It would, the sun are sufficiently powerful to hatch them withhowever, be perfectly ridiculous to imagine that the out any assistance on her part. She does not, howstomach of this bird is capable of digesting metals ever, as has been commonly stated, neglect her offand converting them into food, although it is un-spring, but watches over them with as much solicidoubtedly true that after having lain in that organ tude as any other bird, hovering around the spot in for a length of time, they become corroded by its which they are deposited, and if surprised in her ocjuices. M. Cuvier found, in the stomach of an indi-cupation, making a short circuit, and constantly runvidual that died in the Paris menagerie, nearly a ning to the object of her care. This doubling kind of pound weight of stones, bits of iron and copper, and pieces of money, worn down by constant attrition against each other, as well as by the action of the stomach itself. The human stomach, we may

flight is regarded by the hunters as a certain sign of the vicinity of her eggs, as at all other times the ostriches pursue, for a time at least, a direct and straightforward course. In the more temperate regions, and