File:The Open court (1887) (14590559007).jpg

Identifier: opencourt_d40840caru (find matches)
Title: The Open court
Year: 1887 (1880s)
Authors: Carus, Paul, 1852-1919 Open Court Publishing company, Chicago
Subjects: Religion Religion and science
Publisher: Chicago : The Open Court Pub. Co.
Contributing Library: Morris Library, Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Digitizing Sponsor: CARLI: Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Illinois

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il scraped out by the feet of the old birds with the earthheaped around to form a wall or rampart. The female incubatesthe eggs during the day, while the male takes her place at night.As eggs are sometimes dropped in the neighborhood of the nest orscattered around, the popular belief in the carelessness of the birdsand in the hatching of the eggs by the heat of the sun may havearisen. Any eggs not hatched are broken by the parents and fed tothe young for whom they display great solicitude, and whom theydefend in case of danger. As to Palestine, the ostrich still occurs in the farther parts ofthe Belka, the eastern plains of Moab, and is still obtained nearDamascus. Tt is no doubt now but a straggler from central Arabia,though formerly far more abundant. The portion of the Syriandesert lying east of Damascus denotes the northernmost limit ofthe range of the ostrich. From limes immemorial the ostrich has been an inhabitant ofArabia. The valuable white plumes of the wings and tail are in
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Sketch cf Ostrich by Albreciit Durer, dated 1508. 264 THE OPEN COURT great demand among the Arabs for their own wants in the decora-tion of tents and spears of the sheikhs. Ostrich hunting is alludedto in early Arabic poetry and has always been a popular sport withthe Arabs, who rely on the speed of their horses and run the birdsdown. As these are in the habit of circling their favorite haunts,the horsemen hunt in relays and are apt to overtake the birds bypursuing in a straight line. There is a Moslem legend in explanation of the birds inabilityto fly. Once upon a time the ostrich was wanged, and like otherbirds, was capable of flight. He once laid a wager wnth the bustard,but relying on his strength he forgot before rising to invoke Allahsassistance. He flew in the direction of the sun which scorched hispinions, so that he pitifully plunged down to earth. His progenyhas since sufl:ered from the curse which befell its ancestor, andrestlessly roves about in the desert. The ancient Egy

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