The ostrich is a bird of the deserts of Libya, but it has still been seen rather often in our parts. A young one is ash grey and totally well feathered, although its plume feathers are not strong.  In its second year and thereafter, its body is laid bare as it completely loses its feathers on its thighs, neck, and head. But it is probtected from the cold by a tough skin and the very black feathers of its back tur into a sort of wooly substance. It has very large thighs, fleshy legs, a white skin, and only two toes on its foot like a camel. It is therefore called the cameleon by some Greeks and asida by others.

Original Latin

Est autem alta a pedibus ad dorsum forte ad quinque vel sex pedes: sed collum habet longissimum et caput anserinum et rostrum respectu sui corporis valde parvum.

De hac ave dicitur quod ferrum comedat et digerat: sed ego non sum hoc expertus quia ferrum saepius a me pluribus strutionibus obiectum comedere noluerunt. Sed ossa magna ad breves partes truncata et arida et lapides avide comederunt.

Haec avis dicitur esse stolida et volare non potest, sed alis extensis aliquantulum citat cursum. Spicula quaedam habet in cubitis interioribus alarum quibus ferit eos quibus insilit. Haec avis mense Julio ovat et ova in sabulo abscondit quae calore solis egrediuntur sicut et alia multa ova animalium: et ideo ad ea non revertitur quia nudo corpore ea fovere  non posset. Aliquando autem custodit ea et respicit ad locum in quo iacent: et ideo rumor falsus exivit quod visu ea foveat.

Haec sunt quae vidi de strutione quae non tam avis quam medium inter gressibile et volatile esse mihi videtur.