Southern planter., 1832-06-02
NO: a.
The ostrich is ! poI0gTRIciI

Ahc oailCn ~ putftAlhilH.
breeding usually associates 10 hnd Al the time Of
SIX females. The hens lay all their eqrse6wo Il
IN The same nest, which is merely shallow cavisv
scfapcd IN the ground cfsuch shuns a. 10 be oon.
venienliy covered BY one Of the brds. The eeea
ere placed upon their points, and the earth whIeh
has eeen scraped to form the nest Is omploved NJ
confne Che outer circle. and keep the whoei IN he
proper position. The hens relieve zach o,ha. H.
the office OF incubation during tho day. ana ,be
male takes his turn at night, when his sunerIo,
strength is required to protect the eqgs or lbe ne,
fedged young from the iackais, tipef.caia. ana
other enemies, which are not unffeouentv' lis
said, found lying dead near the nest, DESTROYED
by stroke from tho powerful foot orthe muantIc
bird se1'eS
SO many as sixty eggs arc sometimes found in
hesti but mach smaller number are also com
mon, and incuoaiion Is occasionally perforncd Nv
single pair Of ostnches. Each female laws from
twelve to sixteen eggs They continue 10 iay dur.
ing incubation, and even after the young brood
are ha'chedi tho supernhmeary eggs are not placed
IN lhe nest, but are around II, being desipaed 10
assist in the nourshment of the young birds winch
though when first hatched are as large as p,,ilc,s
are probably unable at ouco to digest the ba,d ma
acrld food on which the old ones subsist Tho
period Of incubation is from thrty-six 10 forty days
In the heat oflhe day the nest is occasionally a.
bandoned by oil the birds, the heat of tho sun bo-
,ng ucn suinc'en' to Keep the eggs at the proper
An ostrich egg is equal in its coutents 10 twenty.
four Of the domestic hen. When taken lTeah Gon
the nest, they are very palatablo, and are whole.
some though somewhat heavy food. Tho bes, mode
OF cooking them that l havo seen is that praciised
by the dosientols, who place one end Of the ego
IN the hot ashes, and, making small orfce Al ,he
other, keep stirring the conlontsNvth asmall stick
al they are sufficiently roasted; and thus, with
seasoning OF salt and pepper, you havop very nice
emehde.
Tho ostrich Of South Africa is a prudent and
wary animal, and displays little Of that stupidity as
cribod 10 itby some naturalists On the borders Of
the colony, at eastwhen it is eagerly pursued for
the sake olits valuable plumagc this bird displays
40 Syant ofsagacy IN providing for s safety, OF the
security Of It's offspring. Il adopts every possible
precauog TO conceal the place Of iis nest; and a.
nformly alb 1ndons il, afer destroying the eggs, IL
the eges have been disturbed, or the footsteps Of
man discovered ,searit. IN relieving each other in
Patching the birdss 20 never observed 10 approach
| itin direct line B. me 81 the eolonists on, the
skirts Of the 'Korroo an, other remote districts,
make the pursuit Of the oslu ch one Of then prncl'
pal and most profitable anna 'omentaf Da tioi'
showed me Eve or six skins Of ches oenaa lAle
lately killed Henaid, however, that il wSe exceed
/ ingly difficult TO get within musketahot otihem
owing 10 their constant vigilance and the grea di'
lance TO which cantheysee. Tue neeiest horse, 90
will not oyerlakd them, unless sraiagem be adopie
10 tire them ont; but by several huntsmen taking
different sides Of large plain; and pursuing them
back and forward till their strength is exhausted,
they may be at length run down. II followed up
too eagerly, this chase is not destitute Of danger
for the buntsman has sometimes had hs lhiqh-bono
broken by a singlestroke from the wing of a.wonn.
dedosirich, The beautiful white feathers, so high.
/ y priced blythe ladies Of Europe and America are
found on the tail only Tho male bird.
The food Of the ostrich consisfu Of the top Of
various shr,lbby plants which oven the most arid
parts Of South Africa produce indbuudance. This
bird is easily satisfied in regard 20 water, that
he is constantly TO DO found in tho most .parched
and desolate tracts, which even the antelopes and
beasts Of prey have deserted His cry at a dis
lance is said much TO resemble that Of lion, that
even the Hottensots arc sometimes deceived by IL
i When not Matching, they are frequently seen in
troops ofthlrty or forty together or amicably asso-
ciated with herds Of zebras or quaghas their fellow
tenants Of lho wilderness. When caught young,
the ostrich is easily tamed but Il does not apr car
that any aitemp. has been made to Spply his great
strength aud swifness to any purpose Of practical
utility