The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1882-11-25
THE OSTRICH WALTZ.
An Odd Sight in the Central Park Deer
Paddock-lIow to Pluck an Ostrich.

An Odd Sight in the Central Park Deer
raddock-IIow to Pluck. an Ostrich.
| Mr.. j. Prother0e, the young English
man who has in Central Park Il herd OF
% ostriches, recently imported from
Buenos Ayres for breeding in
America, went yesterday morning with
his herdman, an ebon Cape Towner
named johnson, and a sun reporter, ,te
the deer hut in which the birds are
confined. When johnson opened the
door he was greeted by n series O
sounds suggestive of the noise made by
Il fog horn.
ssThat's what the Dutch natives OF
Cape Town call tbromming,' s'ssid
Mr.. Protheroe. cit expresses the same
feeling with an ostrich that cooling does
with dove. I'll show you how we
pluck an ostrich. johnson bring the
stocking"
The dark herder, whom the birds
regarded With mild-eyed affection, pro-
duced long, white stocking. He
caught one of the birds by its neck
and inserted the head and neck in the
stocking. The result irresistibly re-
called the pictures of Bernhardt in
Bernhardt gloves. The blinded bird
exhibited some nervousness.
stThis herd have been so long in con-
finement," said Mr.. Protheroe, "that
they are comparatively gentle when
the stocking is pulled over their necks.
They fight and kick vigorously some
to the liberty of Il large farm"
Johnson4cd the bird up to side of
the hut, against which with one hand
he held his neck. He held up wing
with the other hand, while Mr.. Pro-
theroe held the other wing and with Il
pair of shears clipped off II white
feather one inch from the flesh under
the wing. "It would not do" con-
tinued Mr.. Protheroe, "to pull these
feathers out. Inflammation might set
in. We pull out the tail feathers and
those on the outside of the wings. One
month after we cut off the large feathers
under the wing new feathers push out
the old quills."
While Mr.. Protheroe. was speaking
tho longnecked birds were making
friends with the reporter. One Of them
seized his shirt collar, but was frus-
trated by johnson in his attempt to
swallow it. Another tried to gulp down
the reporters cane, but finding n stiff
neck the result, desisted.
eff you will stand behind me-" said
the young Englishman, "we will open
tho door and let the birds out for their
morning airing. They are dangerous
when let Mt liberty"
johnson pushed back the sliding
door of the hut. "Now," continued
Mr.. Protheroe, "you will see something
that you have not had the privilege O.
seeing in America before" johnson
gave a low, peculiar whistle, resembling
somewhat the "brommin:' of the birds
as he walked out of the door into the
grassy enclosure. The ungainiy bipeds
rushed after him pell-mcll. Their neclls
were craned out and their mouths were
wide open. They ran about the en-
closure in break-necl< fashion for
several minutes, occasionally humping
into ono another. Then they began
Tapping their wings and waltzing. 1t
was veritable waltz, and is so termed
by ostrich farmers. The birds turn
rapidly round and round, dipping their
necks and swaying their bodies at each
turn. A rhythm that could be set to
music pervades their motions.
.uIt would be unsafe to go among
them now, unless, like johnson, you
were familiar with them," said Mr..
Protheroe. Two of the male ostriches
began to fight at this point. They
faced each other with distendcd mouths,
Tapping wings, and glaring eyes. Then
they began peclsing match, which
was followed by some high kicking,
forward, backward, and sidewisc.
"While they arc too tough to be much
hurt by their own kicks, they have
been known to break the arms and
legs of men by thcm," said Mr.. Pro-
theroe. The birds will be taken to
California soon. Mr.. PrOthcroe thinks
his ostrich farming in America will be
entirely successful.
According to writer in the British
Medical journal, the opium habit