Soldiers of Ancient Rome, after returning from military campaigns, told local residents stories about strange birds that they met in distant lands. Due to a lack of education, a wild imagination, and a common desire to captivate casual listeners, the soldiers diluted the truth with fiction. But they can be justified by the fact that in the places where ostriches lived, there were appropriate weather conditions that contributed to optical illusion.
Small brain size
Man often treated this bird with disdain, considering it the most stupid divine creature. Scientists confirm this opinion, citing the Bible and research results as proof, where it is written in black and white that the size of the eyes of an ostrich is larger than its brain.
German zoologist Alfred Edmund did not particularly respect this bird: "I have been studying the lifestyle of ostriches for a long time, and therefore I will not refute public opinion. Yes, this bird is one of the most stupid creatures known on our Earth. They stray into flocks, obey not only the leader, but also their tutor, and also feel free only in the area they are used to.are running out. Obeying the call of instincts, ostriches can offend any animal, or during a fit of anger, swallow everything that fits into their mouths. If a similar desire has not arisen, you can even walk on them, they will not even show that they noticed it. Ostriches occupy a leading place among those birds that are completely dependent on their instincts and glimpses of momentary desires."
The desire to eat is a sign of curiosity
Not least, thanks to the size of an ostrich's brain, it tends to eat whatever it can get, with any number of witnesses. But thanks to the wild human imagination, such witnesses love to embellish reality. For example, we can recall the people who lived 2000 years ago. They swore that the ostrich eats absolutely everything. If there is not enough food, these birds visit the blacksmiths, who are ready to treat them with flaming iron straight from the anvil. The ostrich swallows the iron and releases it from the rectum almost immediately, reeking just as hot as before. But the digestive juices do their job, and the iron loses some weight and begins to ring from the impact on the floor.
Of course, this is a hoax. There could not be any hot iron in the stomach of an ostrich, even theoretically. But instead of it you can see stones and small metal products. This bird has a special digestion, which needs help in processing food. Therefore, inside the brain of an ostrich, there is natural information about stones suitable for this purpose. And the metal is there due to the usual curiosity of a bird at the sight of a sparklingsubject. For the daily diet, he chooses completely different products. This list includes plants, insects, small animals and lizards.
Mapping brain and eyes
Science has proven the biologically strange structure of the ostrich skull. This oddity is manifested in the fact that the brain of an ostrich is smaller than an eye. But in fairness it is worth noting how this weight exceeds not one, but both eyes. The weight of a bird's brain is between 40 and 60 grams, and only two eyes can bypass this indicator, which, in combination, are the largest organs of vision of all earthly creatures living on this planet.
Besides the physiological parameters and brain size of an ostrich, this bird has many other features. And yet, perhaps the most remarkable feature is the eyes. They are framed by fluffy eyelashes that protect from debris in gusts of wind. To protect themselves from predators, ostriches have developed excellent visual acuity. In addition, the beaks of males turn red during the breeding season.
Popular theory about the life of these birds
Many people consider the ostrich's brain so primitive that in times of great stress this bird does not run away, but hides its head in the sand. It is a myth. The hot air of the savannah creates a flickering illusion of moving sand. This contributes to the impression that the bird did not just lay its head on the sand, but stuck it inside it.
This myth was taken seriously not only by ordinary people, but also quitefamous scientists - Timothy (the creator of the scientific collection "On Animals") and Pliny the Elder, who is credited with the authorship of "Natural History". Pliny was believed more due to the fact that he was among the courtiers of Vespasian, and came to Africa at the direction of a superior.
Modern faunal research has proven that ostriches are looking for small gravel on the surface of the earth, which they can swallow and improve their digestion process. If they recently ran away from a predator, then in a state of fatigue they can lay their heads on the sand, trying to rest and gain strength. Therefore, regardless of the size of the ostrich's brain, it contains all the necessary natural instincts. They allow the bird to lead a full life without any special glimpses of the mind.
