However surprising it might appear to a person accustomed to see only birds of ordinary size, such as are found in most countries of the earth, there is one so large, and possessed of such strength, that it is able to bear the weight of a man, and has been trained to carry a rider with ease and rapidity. The following description we give in the language of an English writer : This singular bird, whose plumage is so often used in female attire, appears in some measure to connect the class of quadrupeds and birds. In its general figure it has some resemblance to the camel, and is almost as tall; it is covered with a plumage more resembling hair than feathers; and even its internal parts bear as great a similitude to those of the quadruped as of the bird. The ostrich is certainly the largest of all birds, appearing nearly as high as a man on horseback. It is usually seven feet from the top of its head to the ground, but from the back it is only four; consequently, the head and neck are above three feet long.From the top of the head, when the head is extended in a right line, it is six feet long, and the tail is about one foot more. The plumage of the ostrich is generally a mixture of black and white, though in some varieties it is observed to be grey.The largest feathers, which are situated at the extremity of the tail and wings, are commonly white; the next row is black and white; and of the small feathers on the back and belly, some partake of both colors. There are no feathers either on the sides, the thighs, or under the wings: the lower part of the neck is covered with still small ΑΠ er plumage than the belly and back. the feathers are of a kind peculiar to the os trich, soft as down, absolutely unfit to help the animal in flight, and still less adapted for the defence against external injury. Again, the upper part of the head and neck are covered with a very fine clear white hair, shining like the bristles of a hog; and, in several places, are tufts of the same nature, consisting of about twelve hairs, all issuing from a single shaft. At the extremity of each wing is a kind of spur, resembling the quill of a porcupine. The legs are covered with scales, and the bill is short and pointed. From this brief description it must be evident, that the ostrich bears no great affinity to any other bird; and, indeed, not only its structure but its habits are peculiar. It inhabits the torrid regions of Africa and Asia only, and has never been known to breed out of the country where it was first produced. It seems perfectly adapted to the sandy and burning deserts of those countries, and delights in wild solitary tracts, where few vegetables clothe the race of nature, and where the rain seldom descends to refresh it. Indeed, it is asserted that the ostrich never drinks, and the place of its habitation seems to give a sanction to to this opinion. In those inhospitable regions, ostriches are seen in large flocks. They feed indis criminately on every thing edible; nor are they likely to be at a loss for provisions, as long as even the very barren soil on which they walk remains. Their appetites require little selection to gratify them; and their powers of digestion are inconceiv able. The female lays from forty to fifty eggs at a time; and, though in the warm climates which she inhabits it is unnecessary to sit continually on them, she does not leave them to be hatched by the sun's heat, as has been a general tradition in every age. In fact, no birds can take a more affectionate care of their young, or be more assiduous in supplying them with grass, or whatever is suitable to their nascent state. Not only the plumage but also the eggs and the flesh are holden in high estimation; and therefore the ostrich has numerous enemies to guard against; and, were it not for its prodigious fecundity, the breed would prob ably have been long ago extinct. "The ostrich, (sogun,) says Salt, in his travels, is found in the low districts of Abys sinia, but very rarely within the actual limits of the country." According to Dr. Shaw, the wings serve it both for sails and oars, while her feet, which have only two toes, and are not unlike the camel's, can bear great fatigue.— M. Montbeillard, however, is of opinion that it does not spread its wings and tail-feathers with the view of assisting its motion, but from the common effect of the corresponding muscles, as a man in swimming throws out his arms. Though the ostrich is universally admitted to run faster than the fleetest horse, yet the Arabs contrive to run these birds down on horseback, their feathers being valuable, and their flesh not to be despised. The best and fleeetest horses are trained for this chase. When the hunter has started his game, he puts his horse upon a gentle gallop, so as to keep the os trich in sight, without coming too near to alarm it and put it to its full speed. Upon observing itself pursued, therefore, it begins to run at first but gently, its wings, like two arms, keeping alternate motion with its feet. It seldom runs in a direct line, but, like the hare, doubles, or, rather, courses in a circular manner, while the hunters, taking the diameter or tracing a smaller circle, meet the bird at unexpected turns, and with less fatigue to the horses. This chase is often continued for a day or two, when the poor ostrich is starved out and exhausted, and finding all power of escape impossible, it endeavors to hide itself from the enemies it cannot avoid, running into some thicket, or burying its head in the sand; the hunters then rush in at full speed, leading as much as possible against the wind, and kill the bird with clubs, lest the feathers should be soiled with blood. M. Adanson saw two tame ostriches which had been kept two years at the factory of Podor, on the south bank of the Niger. "They were so tame," he says, that two little blacks mounted both toge ther on the back of the largest: no sooner did he feel their weight than he began to run as fast as ever he could, till he carried them several times round the village, and it was impossible to stop him otherwise than by obstructing the passage. This sight pleased me so well that I would have it repeated, and, to try their strength, I made a full-grown negro mount the smallest and two others the largest. This burden did not seem to me at all disproportioned to their strength. At first they went a moderate gallop; when they were heated a little they expanded their wings as if it were to catch the wind, and they moved with such. fleetness that they seemed to be off the ground. Everybody must some time or other have seen a partridge run, consequently must know there is no man whatever able to keep up with it, and it is easy to imagine that if this bird had a longer step its speed would be considerably augmented. The ostrich moves like the partridge, with both these advantages, and I am satished that those I am speaking of would have distanced the fleetest racehorses that were ever bred in England. It is true they would not hold out so long as a horse, but, without all doubt, they would be able to perform the race in less time. I have frequently beheld this sight, which is capable of giv ing one an idea of the prodigious strength of au ostrich, and of showing what use it might be of had we but the method of breaking it and managing it as we do a horse." The traveller, Moore, mentions that he saw a man journeying mounted upon an ostrich, though both this and the instance given by M. Adanson show the circumstance to be of unusual occurrence. Cuvier remarks, that although the os trich is ranked among the Grallaæice, it differs from them in one important particular, which is the shortness of the wings, which renders flight impossible, while the beak and regimen give them affinities with the Gallinacecæ, or fowls. He however places them in his fifth order, with most of the long-necked and long-legged birds, (most of which live by wading and catching fish or worms.) in such company as the Bustard, Plover, Lapwing. Oyster-catcher; the Caltrirostres, or Crane, Heron and Stork; the Cultrirostres, or Curlew, Snipe, Sandpiper, Jacana, (see vol 1, p. 9,) Rail, &c. &c. This fifth class is distinguished by having the lower part of the legs bare, and the upper part commonly long, by extending the legs back in flying, and usually by the want of a thumb. The first family, that is formed of the Ostrich and Cassowary, cannot fly, and are chiefly found on dry and sandy deserts. Wings of immense size and strength would have been necessary to raise such heavy bodies, and nature shows no preparations for that mode of progression. The muscles of the breast are very small and feeble, barely sufficient to enable the birds to use their winds in balancing, or slightly assisting them, in running. The muscles of the legs, on the contrary, are of astonishing magnitude and power, so that the Ostrich and Cassowary have something of the figure and proportions of a horse, when seen from behind. Cuvier describes the Struthio Camelus, the Camel Ostrich, or Ostrich of the Eastern continent, as having but two toes, the the outer short and destitute of a nail, 6 or 8 feet high, and living in great troops, while the American Ostrich, or Struthio Rhea, (as named by Linneus,) is only of about half that size, more thinly clad with feathers, and has three toes, all with nails. It is grayish, browner on the back; and the male has a stripe of black down the back of the neck. It is found in the Southern part of South America; several birds lay their eggs in one nest, which are said to be brooded by the male. It is eaten when young, and the chickens may be easily. tamed. Calmet devotes several pages to the Ostrich, in illustration of the interesting passage in the 39th chapter of Job, verses 1318: "Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the Peacock, or wings and feathers to the Ostrich, which leaveth her eggs in the dust, and forgetteth that the foot may crush them, or the wild beast may break them? She is hardened against her young ones as though they were not hers: her labor is in vain without fear; because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he impart ed to her understanding. What time she lifteth up herself on high, she scorneth the horse and his rider." Calmet translates the original of "leav eth" so as to make it mean "deposits ;" and remarks that Mr. Ray and others, probably by understanding "tazob" as of a total dereliction, have supposed the egg of the ostrich to be hatched entirely by the sun, quæ in arena condita. solis duntaxat calore foveri dicuntur, whereas the original word "tehammem" signifies actively, that she heateth them, viz.: by incubation." A SKETCH OF FLORIDA. For the American Penny Magazine. About twelve years ago, while yet in the hey-day of youth and health, it was my for une to go, in company with four other young men, up the St. John's river in East Florida. In the morning we easily forded, with our horses, an arm of the river, which, at our return in the evening, owing to the rise of the tide, had become impracticable, particularly for me, as I chanced to be monnted on one of the little Indian ponies so much used in that country. We several times essayed to cross the swelling, widening body of water, and were as often obliged to relinquish the undertaking; not however until I had urged in my little faithful animal, until my own rather extensive supporters were immersed in the turbid waters: a hydropathic application, which, had it been applied to my brains at that time, might possibly have been of essential service. As the distance across was about half a mile, this literally cooled our endeavor to pass; and we were obliged to retrace our steps, and try to find some shelter for the night. One of our company had seen a planter, whose location was a short distance up the river; and thither we tuined the heads of our weary and baffled steeds. We soon reached his log cabin; and, although the proprietor was absent, we were welcomed by his household, which consisted of a sick and lame live ouk chopper, (who occupied a pallet in one corner of the cabin, and although bed-ridden, was fed and retained by the planter, for the benefit of his company,) and some thirty or forty slaves, who had their own little cabins separate from their master's. They gave us a hearty welcome; and the sick wood-chopper said he knew Mr. Warton would be very glad to see us." An old female slave soon baked us some corn-cake, and boiled some hominy, which, with their delicious syrup, was all they had to set before us. But this was quite sufficient; and, after the exertions made in our escapes, by flood and field, right well did we enjoy this simple meal, and soon began to think of disposing of ourselves for the night. We took possession of the mattress of our humble host, placing it in the centre of the room, as a sort of general pillow, from which our bodies radiated in every direction. My companions were soon sleeping as sound as if canopied by crimson curtains: but, unfortunately for my repose, the cabin, besides its other occupants, contained an almost countless number of dogs, of various sizes, breeds and ages, which kept careering about the room, now and then trot ting across our prostrate bodies, and sending my slumbers up the stick chimney. I soon rose, to resolve myself into a committee of ways and means, to expel my canine frds from the cabm. Thinking I had succeeded, I again betook myself to wooing Somnus: but my limbs had no sooner formed a long radius of our sleeping circle, than I heard a tremendous clatter and a rush; and a troop of hounds, bull-dogs and spaniels were again pursuing their peregrinations about the room, and over our bodies. This time I en. tered into a more minute investigation of the subject, and ascertained that they had obtained ingress through a hole in the stick chim. ney. After stopping this, I was enabled to forget myself and my unusual situation. 1 slept, but was haunted with dreams. I was again struggling with the waters. I retained my seat on the back of my floating pony, but an icy hand had clasped mine; and, in spite of my resistance, was pulling me down, under the water. I felt myself going-sinking deeper and deeper-the waters gradually rising about me already a roaring, like Niagara, in my ears-when I make a superhuman exertion, snatched myself from that deathly grasp, and awoke with a loud scream! : All our party instantly sprang to their feet but no one could ascertain the cause of the outcry. I found that one hand, thrown up over my head, had become torpid; and, being clasped by the other, had become the dead hand of my night-mare. Having no inclination to resume the thread of my broken dream, I wandered out in the clear moonlight, to take a stroll, and compose my disturb nerves. It was an exceedingly beauti ful night. I could feel and can remember, but cannot describe it. To a person from our land of mountains and lakes, there is something inexpressibly striking in the appearance of the broad and placid St. John's, with its fringe of lordly live-oaks, curtained with moss, hanging to the very water's edge.With regard to Mr. W's. little plantation, the order of things seemed to be reversed. His own cabin, instead of being adorned with trees or shrubbery was completely destitute of any thing of that kind; while those of his negroes were each surrounded by a little garden, in which they cultivated vegetables and orange trees, whence they derived some funds for their own use. I had nearly reached the banks of the river, when I heard the voice of a person, singing merrily at the very top of his lungs. I rightly surmised that it was our host, on his return from Jacksonville, whether he had been with his boat for supplies. I immedi ately stepped forward, and simply stated our case to him, interlarded with a few excuses for having so far trespassed on him in his absence. He seemed delighted at the occur rence, seized my hand, which he neither relinquished, nor ceased shaking, until we had arrived at his domicil. But," said he, pointing to two negro boys who followed him, one carrying on his head & keg of whiskey, the other a half barrel of crackers: They must all get up and drink and tell a story all round." This requisition no one seemed to demur at: but a great search was made for cups; and it was not until after bor. rowing some of the negroes that we were at length supplied with a vessel each, of various materials, size and color, from a tin dipper to a china cup. The next day we departed, to the great apparent regret of our host, who urged us, with all the eloquence of which he was master, to stay and dine with him, and he would kill a cow, which he had shut up fattening. This may show that Southern hospitality is not confined to the highest and wealthiest, aad may give some idea of the domestic arrangements and management of some of the tillers of the soil in our sunny Southern land. HENRY HULL Claverack, Columbia co. N. York. DISGUSTING DEADLY COMPOUNDS. By Accum on culinary poisons, we are told that: "Green vitroil, alum and salt give head to beer." "To make beer entire or old, the brewer needs none of the old modes of sophistication, for, by an admixture of sulphuric acid, it is done in an instant." "To increase the intoxicating qualities of beer, cocculus indicus, opium, nux vomica, and extracts of poppies are used." In the Wine and Spirit Merchant's Companion, J. Hartley, London, 1835, we have the following precious receipts-read them, electors of New York, who are inquiring whether you shall approve License or no Li cense: "Beading for brandy or Rum-oil of sweet almonds, oil of vitroil.' "Clearings for wine-sugar of lead with salt eruxum." Finings for gin-roche alum." "To make gin-oil of juniper, bitter almonds, cassia, oil of vitroil." To imitate port wine-cider brandy, and a little port, with certain ingredients.' To clear tainted gin-American potash, roche alum, salts of tartar.” To strengthen gin-blue stone, oil of vitriol, oil of almonds." "To hring beer forward-oil of vitriol, &c. This will make new beer appear twelve months old." Also in the Home and Country Brewer, Child's Practical Brewery, Shannon's Treatise on Brewing and Distilling, particular di rections are given how to cheat in drawing and showing the proof; how to charge more to some persons than to others, and the novice is lead through the whole system of defrauding, deceiving, counterfeiting, and poisoning men, in the traffic of intoxicating drinks. ternal coat, which dries and falls off. The specific character is-leaves ranged in opposite rows and taper form; buds almost upright. This climber thrives well in a common garden soil, and bears its white flowers from June to October. This plant, when first introduced into France, was very much admired for the star-like flowers; they at first took considerable care of it, but at last left it mostly to itself, when they found it would do better without their aid. Its flexible branches twine around our window sills, and cause each gale that sweeps by to almost intoxicate with its delicious odors. It became neglected, and at the end of the seventeenth century, there was but one place in Europe where it could be obtained, and that was in the garden of the Grand Duke of Tuscany, at Pisa. Jealous than any one should possess this charming plant but himself, he would not allow his gardener to give away a flower on any consideration, which order was disobeyed by the man presenting his betrothed with a sprig in a birth-day bouquet. She had profited by the instructions her lover at times had given her relative to the cultivation of plants; and, observing her prize with delight, as soon as he had depart ed, planted it, and was so successful in his culture, that she amassed a small fortune by the sale of the cuttings; enough to render them independent enough to marry. From this circumstance arose the proverb in that place, that she who is worthy to wear a nosegay of Jasmine is as good as a fortune to her husband." This plant, of course, is only valu able for its odor; it was formerly celebrated in Italy, in some parts of which, even at the present day the oil is considered a specific for rheumatic pains and the cure of paralytic limbs. This oil is obtained by alternating layers of the flowers with cotton saturated with the oil of ben or any other scentless fixed oil, and exposing the whole in a covered vessel to the rays of the sun: the flowers are renewed until the oil becomes saturated with their odor, and it is then separated from the cotton by pressure; there is no other way of eliminating the odor, as the scent is lost entirely by distillation. The seeds of the Jasmine do not ripen in our climate, but the plant is increased by layering down the branches which took root in one year, and may then be separated from the parent stock and planted where they are to remain. Tyas says, that it may also be propagated by cuttings, which ought to be planted in the early part of autumn, and the earth covered with sand, ashes, or sawdust, to keep the frost from entering the ground.-Selected. A MAN OVERBOARD. From Headley's Italy. The pleasure of our passage over the Atlantic, was much marred by the loss of a man overboard. When within a few hundred miles of the Azores, we were overtaken, by a |