Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 3, 1802).djvu/343

321&#93; OT T and sometimes eight or nine feet liigli from the top of the head to the ground ; and measures seven feet in length, from the beak to the point of the tail. The plumage of these birds is, in general, black and white, though sometimes grey ; the sides, thighs, and coverts of the wings, are desti- tute of feathers ; the thighs being very large, fleshy, and covered with a reddish-white skin. Ostriches are remarkable for the uncommon swiftness with which they run, when pursued ; their wings being too short for flying : two persons might easily ride on the back of tiiis giant-bird, if it were properly trained. The fe- male lays several times in the year^ from 20 to 30 eggs, whieh arc hatched in the sand, and weigh from three to four pounds eacii ; they are very nourishing, but of a taste less agreeable than that of lien's eggs. Hence these prodigi- ous birds are chietly valuable on account of their soft downy fea- thers, employed in the manufac- ture of military plumes ; and which pay on importation, if dressed, the sum of gs. S^id, perlb. ; if undress- ed, they arc subject to the duty of 4s. lOid. per lb. Ottar of Roses. See Roses. OTTEil, the Common, or 7i///y- te/a Intra, L. an amphibious ani- mal that inh;ibiCs Europe, Nurih America, and Asiaj it is, in ge- neral, about thesiie of tiie ba^lger (which see), bat has shorter legs : i and its (ive claws are connected with a wcb-iike membrane. . Otters display great sagacity in forming their habitations j they burrow under ground in the banks of rivers or lakes, making the en- trance of their hole beneath the Surface of the water ) they also XO. XI.— VOL, III. o V E ht constru(5l several other apartments, to which they retreat in case of high floods. These quadrupeds prey on fish, frogs, aquatic rats, lobsters, and other inserts living in fresh waters ; but they are exceedingly destructive in fish-ponds. — Their rutting season is in February, arid the female produces three or four young ones in the month of May. The skins of otters afford a very fine fur, of a deep brown colour, which, in winter, acquires a darker shade, and sells at an advanced price.— -Dogs spontaneously cliace these animals, and easily dppre- liend them, when at a distance from water, or their subterraneous dwellings ; this pursuit, however, is attended with great danger to the former; as the otter, when seizf ;d, defends himself with such, force as to break their leg-bones, » and never quits his hold but with the loss of life. Less valuable than the skin, is the flesh of otters ; though we learn from Bechstf.in, that it is occa.^ionally eaten in m.onasteries and cloisters, during Lent : from its strong fishy nature, such food is almost indigestible. OVJilN, a kind of domestic fur- nace, used for baking bread, pies, tarts, &c. Ovens are generally construfted of brick-work in a .'-emi- circular form, with a very low roof, and the bottom of which is laid with .stone : in the front is a small aper- ture and door, by the .siuuting of vz-iiich,' the heat is continrd while the bread is bnking. They are usually heated by means of dry faggots, wood, Sec. As these ovcns, however,' are not calculated for small families, on account of the quantity of fuel they consume, others have been cyurrlved, on a Y mere