Chap. 39. An Expefstion on the Boo, of Jos Yeti.. r 3. 395 it from a word, which fignifiesto growor flourifh, becaufe fea- Volavit, do thersgrowand flourifh upon fowl's, as herbs and flowers out of, ducit,fedma. and upon the ground. And the reafon why fome conceive the qad Oflrich is meant by this word (kotfa) which we tranflate fea- avi&usplumee theis, is becaufe the feathers of the Oflrich are fo like beauti- enafcarrturut ful flowers, or a goodly garland of flowers. Great Princes in Aresd9' her- all ages havingadorned their hats or hair with the plumes of the b?e%terra. Oflrich, fet in ouches of gold, and befpangled'wuh the rareft gems or precious floues. What thenature., the cuflomsand qualities of the O`}richare, will-appear in opening the latter part of this context. All that I flail add here, is, Firft, To letdown more fully the defcription which the natu- ral Hifl©rian gives of her. The African and EthiopianOfriches (faith he) are the greateft of birds, even as big as a beafi, in Plín, l.ro: c:x. height they are taller than a horfe andhis rider fitting onhis back; trey alloexceedthehorfe in froiftnefs of foot, their wings Teeming to begiven themonly to help them in running,for they can fcarcely fire atall, or lift themfelves much above ground. They are cloven-foot- ed, or hoof-forked like a Hart, their hoofs or clawsferving them to gather tip 'tones, which in theirflight or retreat, they throw back- ward capon fuels ashunt them, They have an admirable concoílión, digeftng the hardeft things which they(wallow down ; nor is their folly left admirable, thinking themfelvesfufficientlyhid, when their headsare. Their eggsfervefor cups to drink in, and their feathers adorn the crefis and helmets of the Warrior. And betides the beautyof her feathers, their equalityor e- vennefs is fo remarkable, that among the Egyptians, the feather of an Of'crickwas taken for the fymbol of equity ; fo that when they would lignifie a man of an;çqual fpirit and converfation to- wards all men, and in all things, they ufed to paint the feather of an Ofirich. Secondly, I fhall add this allo That as in the Peacock wehad the reprelenration of a proud perfon, fo in the Oflrich the live- ly image or pieture of an Hypocrite , which may be held out and made good in thele five particulars. Fir(+,' The Oflrich is a kind of middle creature (as was faid) between a bird-that flies in the air, and a beet that goes upon the ground, having fomewhat of both, yet is properly neither, E e e z Thus
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