Ostrich Chase, Buenos Aires

Catlin writes in his autobiography: "After a few days spent in and about the little Auca village, the appointed day approached for a 'grand hunt'--an ostrich chase...The plan of our day's sport was to ride about ten miles before sunrise, and break upon the brood whilst they were feeding in the open plain...We were off, and galloped over our ten miles pretty quick, and getting near to the ground for our sport, it was necessary to follow up for a mile or two the bed of a small stream, forming a little grass-covered valley...I have joined in the buffalo chase in all its forms, but never before took part in a chase so difficult as this. After the brood was separated, they ran in all directions, darting in zig-zag and curved lines before and around us, leading our horses into angles difficult to turn, and the rider into positions from which he could not use his weapons. Our horses, at the end, as if they had run a five-mile heat, like ourselves, were ready to lie upon the ground for rest." (M.C. Ross, ed., Episodes from Life: Life Among the Indians and Last Rambles, Norman, Oklahoma, 1959, pp. 91-96)

Another version of the same subject is in the collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.