Danny Perkins, age 15, of Oceano, California, for his question:

Do ostriches reallv hide their heads in the sand?

1t you pause to think about it, you will find two good reasons to discredit this fanciful theory. The ostrich breathes through nostrils in his beak and with his head in the sand, he would suffocate. Besides, his bulky body would become a defenseless target to his enemies. His natural enemies are lions and other big cats of the African veldtland. Perhaps they started the rumor that the ostrick hides his head in the sand, hoping that he would fall for the idea. Fortunately, he did not, otherwise he would have ceased to be the World's Largest Living Bird ages ago.

Nature supplied him with several more sensible ways to protect himself. The tall bird has keen vision and watches for trouble from afar. In fact, zebras and other animals grazing nearby depend upon him as a lookout. When he spots a suspicious move in the distance, he strides off at high speed leading his kinfolk and usually a herd of galloping zebras. If by chance he should be cornered, he kicks like a mule and gashes his enemy with his deadly claws. The lordly bird has no need to hide from his natural enemies and if he did, burying his head in the sand would be definitely fatal.