TWO EXTREMES.
The ostrich is the largest bird known to exist in the world. Its body is rather small in proportion to the length of its neck and its legs. The latter are very large and strong. The wings and tail are short, and the feathers are extremely beautiful.
For these feathers they are hunted; but their speed is so great that it is impossible for the swiftest horse to overtake them. The European hunters shoot them, and the native Africans have various expedients for entrapping them. They can run from a hunter as fast as the fleet-footed antelope.
It is said, that, on being pursued, the birds become very much frightened, and hide their heads in the sand, thinking that no one can see them, because they themselves cannot see, and that many are run down and captured in this way. But this account has been contradicted by travelers, and it is not at all probable that so sprightly-looking a bird is so very stupid.
The wings of the ostrich are not intended for flight, but they assist it in running. The bird cannot fly at all. If it could there would be no use for such prodigious legs as it has.
But the ostrich can run! It is estimated that one of these giant birds at full speed, travels at the rate of thirty miles an hour, which is as fast as most locomotives go! But then the bird gets tired after awhile, and the locomotive does not. The ostrich, however, can travel a very long distance before it gives out from fatigue.
It is a magnificent-looking bird when it is traveling over its native sands at full speed, with its head proudly erect; its bright eyes gleaming, its wings outspread, and its feet twinkling over the sand so fast you can scarcely see them.
OSTRICHES IN FLIGHT.
OSTRICHES IN FLIGHT.
OSTRICHES IN FLIGHT.
In a public garden in Paris there is a fine ostrich, which is verygentle, and good-natured. He allows himself to be harnessed to a carriage, in which little children ride about the grounds. He is not permitted to go very fast, as he would not keep in the road in that case; but a keeper walks by his side to regulate his gait; and one of the children acts as driver, holding the reins, which are passed around the lower part of the bird’s neck.
But, you may say, the ostrich is indeed very large, but it is not so very much like a bird, because it cannot fly.
The ostrich is certainly a bird; but, if you insist upon it that a bird must fly, we will take a look at the condor, and see how large he is.
He is intended for flight, you see, and has short legs, and long powerful wings. He is swifter on the wing than the ostrich on his feet, and will take a steady flight for miles without weariness. He has a large body to carry through the air, but, though large, it is light, and his wings are enormous.
A large full-grown condor, with its wings spread, measures from twelve to fourteen feet from tip to tip of the wings; and nine feet is the measure of very ordinary specimens.
It lives on the highest peaks of the Andes mountains in South America; and builds its nests on crags that are inaccessible to man. It cares nothing for snow and ice, nor for the great tempests of wind that sweep over these lofty summits. Among these cold, desolate rocks it makes its nest, and rears a hardy brood of young ones. When it wants food for its family, it perches upon a jutting rock, and sends its piercing glance far down into the cultivated valleys below. When it has singled out an object it comes down with a swift, grand swoop of its wings, and strikes its prey with unerring aim.
It has marvelously keen and long vision, and can see an object several miles distant with ease.
CONDORS.
CONDORS.
CONDORS.
Seen thus upon the wing, the condor is a most majestic-looking bird; but when you get a near view of him you find he is nothing buta great vulture, and has all the disagreeable features and traits of a vulture; being a cruel, greedy, and dirty creature, that is glad to feed upon carrion; and having an ugly, hooded head, fierce eyes, and a savage beak. His wings are his beauties.
The condor is fond of carrion, but it also feeds upon living animals, or, I should say, kills animals, and feeds upon the fresh flesh. It is very strong with its beak and talons; and two of them will sometimes attack and kill a sheep, or even a cow.
Having seen such very large birds, let us turn to the other extreme, and find out what we have in the way of small feathered creatures.
You have, no doubt, in the summer, watched the brilliantly-colored humming-birds flying around the flowers, and dipping their long bills into the blossoms to find the insects that may be there. They want these insects for their dinner, and they run their bills so deftly into the blossoms, and touch them so daintily that they do not injure them in the least. On the contrary they help them by eating the insects that would otherwise feed upon the flowers.
While doing this you will observe they make a little buzzing noise with their wings. From this they get their name.
When hovering over a flower they move with such rapidity that you can scarcely see any motion at all, and the birds look as if they were painted on the air.
You think these humming-birds very small; but in South America, the home of the condor, they have some humming-birds no larger than bumble-bees! It would be a curious sight to see one of these by the side of the condor! But, while the latter lives on the snowy mountain tops, the humming-birds stay in the warm valleys, where there are plenty of flowers and insects.
It is generally supposed that these birds live on the honey of the flowers. They do often eat the honey, but they prefer insects.
SPARKLING-TAILED HUMMING-BIRDS.
SPARKLING-TAILED HUMMING-BIRDS.
SPARKLING-TAILED HUMMING-BIRDS.
There are a great many species of these tiny birds, and nearly allare brilliantly colored. The most gorgeous specimens are found in tropical countries. They are differently marked. Some have such bright spots on their tails that they are called “sparkling-tailed.”
Humming-birds build their diminutive nests on vines and low trees. Their eggs are the size of little peas, and white in color. The species I mentioned as being no larger than bees build the dearest little nests, no bigger than a walnut; and they put into them the cunningest little eggs, and hatch out their very small young ones, just as grandly as if they were great condors.
And they do not like confinement any better than the condors do. Shut up in cages they generally pine, and die. They are made for sunshine and flowers, free, out-door life and happiness.