t a valuable remedy
in various maladies. In rheumatic attacks, for instance, they rub it
on the part affected till it penetrates thoroughly; then lay the
patient in the burning sand, with his head carefully protected. A
profuse perspiration comes on, and the cure is complete. In bilious
disorders, the grease is lightly warmed, mixed with salt, and
administered as a potion. It acts thus as a powerful aperient, and
causes great emaciation for the time; but the patient, say the Arabs,
having been thus relieved from all the bad humours in his body,
afterwards acquires robust health, and his sight becomes singularly
good. The flesh of the ostriches, dressed with pepper and meal, forms
the supper of the sportsmen.

Ostrich-shooting is conducted in quite a different manner, and as it
is practised only or chiefly during the period of incubation, it is to
it we are principally indebted for the acquaintance which the Arabs
have gained with the habits of these singular birds.

The pairing-season is the month of August. The _reumda_ (female) is
generally shy, and the _delim_ has often to pursue the object of his
choice at full speed for four or five days, during which he neither
eats nor drinks. When, however, she has consented to be his, she never
again quits him till the young ones are reared; and the bond between
them is equally respected by all their companions: there is no
fighting about mates, as among some other gregarious species.

The period of incubation begins in the month of November, and presents
the best opportunity for shooting the ostrich. At this season, also,
the feathers are in the finest condition, though the fat is much less
abundant. Five or six sportsmen set out together on horseback, taking
with them two camels laden with provisions for a month, besides an
abundant supply of powder and ball. They search for places where rain
has lately fallen, or where pools of water occur, for in such
localities there is likely to be that plentiful herbage which never
fails to attract the ostrich. Having discovered its footprints, the
sportsmen examine them with care. If they appear only here and there
on the bare spots, they indicate that the bird has been here to graze;
but if they cross each other in various directions, and the grass is
rather trampled down than eaten, the ostrich has certainly made her
nest in the neighbourhood, and an active but cautious search for it is
commenced. If she is only making her nest, th