Ostrich

(Lam. 4:3), the rendering of Hebrew pl. enim; so called from its greediness and gluttony. The allusion here is to the habit of the ostrich with reference to its eggs, which is thus described: “The outer layer of eggs is generally so ill covered that they are destroyed in quantities by jackals, wild-cats, etc., and that the natives carry them away, only taking care not to leave the marks of their footsteps, since, when the ostrich comes and finds that her nest is discovered, she crushes the whole brood, and builds a nest elsewhere.” In Job 39:13 this word in the Authorized Version is the rendering of a Hebrew word (notsah) which means “feathers,” as in the Revised Version. In the same verse the word “peacocks” of the Authorized Version is the rendering of the Hebrew pl. renanim, properly meaning “ostriches,” as in the Revised Version. (See OWL [1].)

a large bird, native of African and Arabia, nearly ten feet high, having s long neck and short wings. It seeks retired places, (Job 30:29; Lamentations 4:13) and has a peculiar mournful cry that is sometimes mistaken by the Arabs for that of the lion. (Micah 1:8) In (Job 39:13-18) will be found a description of the bird’s habits. Ostriches are polygamous; the hens lay their eggs promiscuously in one nest, which is merely a hole scratched in the sand; the eggs are then covered over to the depth of about a foot, and are, in the case of those birds which are found within the tropics, generally left for the greater part of the day to the heat of the sun, the parent-birds taking their turns at incubation during the night. The habit of the ostrich leaving its eggs to be matured by the sun’s heat is usually appealed to in order to confirm the scriptural account, “she leaveth her eggs to the earth;” but this is probably the case only with the tropical birds. We believe that the true explanation of this passage is that some of the eggs are left exposed around the nest for the nourishment of the young birds. It is a general belief among the Arabs that the ostrich is a very stupid bird; indeed they have a proverb, “stupid as an ostrich.” As is well known, the ostrich will swallow almost any substance, iron, stones, and even has been known to swallow “several leaden bullets scorching hot from the mould.” But in many other respects the ostrich is not as stupid as this would indicate, and is very hard to capture. It is the largest of all known birds, and perhaps the swiftest of all cursorial animals. -The feathers so much prized are the long white plumes of the wings. The best are brought from Barbary and the west coast of Africa.

OS'TRICH, a remarkable bird of the hot regions of Africa and Arabia, often attaining the height of 7 feet, of which the head and neck make 3. It is also 7 feet from the head to the end of the tail when the neck is stretched horizontally on a line with the body. The ostrich loves solitary and desolate places, and is the bird intended in Job 30:29; Isa 13:21; Isa 34:13; Jer 50:39; Mic 1:8 (though called the owl), and its cry is piercing and mournful. The plumage of the ostrich is white and black. Its weight (which is often 75 or 80 pounds) and the construction of its body prevent its flying. The habits of this bird are described with scientific accuracy in Job 39:13-18. Its timidity is such that the least noise frightens it from the nest, which is often made on the ground and in the most exposed places; and from the same cause the young of the ostrich are often suddenly abandoned. Hence she seems to be regarded as lacking the usual share of instinct or natural affection. Lam 4:3. A modern traveller tells us that the Arabs meet sometimes with whole nests of these eggs (containing from thirty to fifty in number), 5 inches in diameter, and weighing several pounds; some of them are sweet and good, others are addled and corrupted; others, again, have their young ones of different growth, according to the time, it may be presumed, since they have been forsaken of the dam. They often meet with a few of the little ones no bigger than well-grown pullets, half starved, straggling and moaning about like so many distressed orphans for their mother. In this manner the ostrich may be said to be "hardened against her young ones, as though they were not hers; her labor," in hatching and attending them, being "vain, without fear" or the least concern of what becomes of them afterward. The most remarkable characteristic of the ostrich is the rapidity with which it runs, and which the fleetest horse cannot equal. The surprising swiftness of this bird is expressly mentioned by Xenophon. Speaking of the desert of Arabia, he states that ostriches are frequently seen there; that none could take them, the horsemen who pursue them soon giving it over, for they escaped far away, making use both of Ostrich. their feet to run and of their wings, when expanded, as a sail to waft them along. This representation is confirmed by the writer of A Voyage to Senegal, who says, "She sets off at a hard gallop, but, after being excited a little, she expands her wings as if to catch the wind and abandons herself to a speed so great that she seems not to touch the ground. I am persuaded," continues the writer, "she would leave far behind the swiftest English courser." See Owl, Peacock.

OS'TRICH, a remarkable bird of the hot regions of Africa and Arabia, often attaining the height of 7 feet, of which the head and neck make 3. It is also 7 feet from the head to the end of the tail when the neck is stretched horizontally on a line with the body. The ostrich loves solitary and desolate places, and is the bird intended in Job 30:29; Isa 13:21; Isa 34:13; Jer 50:39; Mic 1:8 (though called the owl), and its cry is piercing and mournful. The plumage of the ostrich is white and black. Its weight (which is often 75 or 80 pounds) and the construction of its body prevent its flying.
The habits of this bird are described with scientific accuracy in Job 39:13-18. Its timidity is such that the least noise frightens it from the nest, which is often made on the ground and in the most exposed places; and from the same cause the young of the ostrich are often suddenly abandoned. Hence she seems to be regarded as lacking the usual share of instinct or natural affection. Lam 4:3. A modern traveller tells us that the Arabs meet sometimes with whole nests of these eggs (containing from thirty to fifty in number), 5 inches in diameter, and weighing several pounds; some of them are sweet and good, others are addled and corrupted; others, again, have their young ones of different growth, according to the time, it may be presumed, since they have been forsaken of the dam. They often meet with a few of the little ones no bigger than well-grown pullets, half starved, straggling and moaning about like so many distressed orphans for their mother. In this manner the ostrich may be said to be "hardened against her young ones, as though they were not hers; her labor," in hatching and attending them, being "vain, without fear" or the least concern of what becomes of them afterward. The most remarkable characteristic of the ostrich is the rapidity with which it runs, and which the fleetest horse cannot equal. The surprising swiftness of this bird is expressly mentioned by Xenophon. Speaking of the desert of Arabia, he states that ostriches are frequently seen there; that none could take them, the horsemen who pursue them soon giving it over, for they escaped far away, making use both of Ostrich. their feet to run and of their wings, when expanded, as a sail to waft them along. This representation is confirmed by the writer of A Voyage to Senegal, who says, "She sets off at a hard gallop, but, after being excited a little, she expands her wings as if to catch the wind and abandons herself to a speed so great that she seems not to touch the ground. I am persuaded," continues the writer, "she would leave far behind the swiftest English courser." See Owl, Peacock.

Part of speech: noun (n.)

A large bird of the genus Struthio, of which Struthio camelus of Africa is the best known species. It has long and very strong legs, adapted for rapid running; only two toes; a long neck, nearly bare of feathers; and short wings incapable of flight. The adult male is about eight feet high.