Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-09-21
Ostrlches- On a Cape Farm.

The male are splendid birds, often
measuring seven feet in height when
the head is raised, and above four
feet to the shoulder, with black shining
feathers on the back, and the beautiful
plumcs both black and white, under the
wings and on the sides Of the tail. A
band of bright red or pink runs down the
leg, and they prance about with great
dignity, shaking the wealth of rich, loose,
hanging feathers under their short arms
las one might say with much pomp and
ceremony before their ladies, who are far
more quietly dressed in gray They too,
have however, some white feathers: but
these can not be depended upon, as they
are often streaked with gray, and are
never so valuable as the male birds.
Their large eyes have a curious film,
which they can bring over them and re-
trace with pleasure.
A pair of fine ostriches is worth about
$50, and five were now parted witt: but
the remaining nine used nightly to settle
themselves to roost at equal distances
along tue farm yard, with their long pro-
jecting breasts fiat on the earth. And a
stranger driving up to the place after
dusk was more than confronted by the
nine sentinels suddenly uprising from
the ground to their full height with start
ling effect. y
They are extremely strong, and can
kill man by striking at him with the
full force Of the leg, when the claw,
above an inch long, Of the front toe, will
tear the flesh from head to foot; the
nail is considered to be poisoned. The
bird when it is to be plucked is, there
fore, very carefully secured; it is driven
into narrow pen and bar let down be-
hind it. A stocking is then drawn over
its head, and when once blindfolded it
remains motionless and makes no resist
ance. The quill of the feather, when
alive, is full of blood, and plucking must
be a painful process. About twenty OF
the finer feathers and thirty or forty OF
the common ones are taken at the same
time, when the poor birds wounds are
rubbed with sweet oil and vinegar. It
soon seems to recover; but the tender
hearted master sometimes cuts the
plumes off near the roots instead of
plucking them; these, however, do not
sell so we'll. A good feather is worth ten
shilllngs at Cape Town, and the produce
OF the five ostriches amounts to about
sixty pounds year. This, IN bad
season, when the wheat is destroyed by
rust, when the sheep have the scab, when
the cattle suffers from dry seasons and
short crops, and the oidium is threaten
ing the vines, must be very pleasant
resource to the Cape farmer in his need,
which the English one will envy him.
1t is by no means, however plain sail
ing with ostrich produce. The birds on
ly breed after FIVE years, and often come
to grief; the male birds fight. and rub
themselves against the ground. break and
dirty their feathers, are fond Of water,
and often plunge into yools and swim
over, much to the detriment of the
plumes that are to figure on the bon
net OF some Paris or London e1egante.
The bird is very easily killed by slight
twist Of the neck or blow on the head.
The immense cavity for air within the
breast, which enables it to run so long,
makes a sound like drum when the
bird is struck on the back. At one time
III the year they make a loud booming
noise like that ola bull, very alarming
when the ostrich is unseen and comes
suddenly close upon you. They are, how
ever, extremely quite when we'll treated,
and the little children on the farm are
often put to ride on their backs. Horses,
until they are accustomed to the sight of
teen, snort and rear in great alright, and
the ostrich returns the compliment Of dis
like. In an ostrich camp close by, wien
the master went about to inspect his sit
ting hens, they rose at him menacingly.
but when he rode around they remained
cowed and silent.