Chad Potter, age 8, of Akron, Ohio, for his question:

HOW FAST CAN AN OSTRICH RUN?

The ostrich is the largest and strongest of living birds, attaining a height from crown to foot of about eight feet and a weight of up to 300 pounds. They are rapid runners, too, and can attain a running speed of about 40 miles per hour.

Ostriches are native to Africa. They have long necks and small heads, with large eyes and short, broad beaks. They spread their small wings when running and have long, powerful legs that are also used for defense. The feet have only two toes.

Male ostriches have black feathers with white wings and tail. The white feathers of the male, which are large and soft, are the ostrich plumes of commercial value. The female is a dull grayish brown in color.

The males are polygamous and travel about in hot, sandy areas with three or four females, or in groups of four or five males accompanied by mates and young. The females lay their yellowish white eggs together in a single large depression in the sand. The eggs weigh about three pounds each and have a volume of about three pints. To guard the eggs against destruction, the male sits on them at night and the female incubates them during the day.