The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1882-11-30
How 70 PLUCK an Ostrich,

Mr.. j. Protheroe. the young English
man who has in Central Park herd of
twenty-five Ostriches, recently imported
from Buenos Ayres fer breeding in
America, went Yesterday morning with
his herdsman, an ebon Cape Towner,
named johnson, and sam reporter, to
the deer hut in which the bird are con-
fined. When Johnson opened the door
he was greeted by a series of sounds
suggestive OF the noise made by a fog
horn.
That what the Dutch natives of
Cape Town call bromming.' said Mr..
PfOtheroe. lit expresses the same feel
ing with an ostrich that cooling does
with a dove. I'll show you how we
pluck an ostrich. johnson, bring the
stocking
The dark herder whom the birds re-
garded with mild-eyed affection, pro
daced a long, white stock NC. He
caught one of the birds by its neck, and
inserted the head and neck in the stock
ing. The result irresistibly recalled the
pictures Of Bernhardt in Bernhardt
gloves. The inded bird exhibited
some nervousness.
sThis herd have been so long in con-
fnement, = said Mr. Pr0theroe, 'that
they are comparatively gentle when the
stocking is pulled over their necks.
They tight and kick vigorously some
times when they have been accustomed
to the liberty of large farm"
johnson led the bird up to a side of
the hut, against which with one hand
he held his neck. He held up a wing
with the other hand, while Mr.. Protheroe
held the other wing and with a pair of
shears clipped of a white feather one inch
from the flesh under the wing. 1T
would not do, - continued Mr. PrOtherOe,
''to pull these feathers out. In MAMMA
ton might sc in. We pun 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
the long-necked birds were making
friends with the reporter One of them
seized his shirt collar. but was frustrated
/ by johnson in his attempt to swallow
/ it. Another tried to gulp down the re-
/ porter cane, but finding stif neck the
/ result, desisted.
"If you will stand behind me,p said
/ the young Euglishman," we will open
4 the door and let the birds out for their
morning airing. They are dangerous
when let at 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 OF
seeing in America before" johnson
gave low, peculiar whistle, resembling
/ somewhat the bromming' of the birds
as he walked out of the door into the
grassy enclosure. The ungainly bipeds
! rushed after him pell-mell. Their
necks were craned out and their mouths
were wide open. They ran about the
enclosure in a break-neck fashion for
several minutes, occasionally humping
into one another. Then they began
Tapping their wings and Waiting 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.
cit would be unsafe to go among
them now, unless. like johnson, you
were familiar with them" said Mr..
Protheroe Two of the male ostriehes
i began to fight at this point They faced
each other with distended mouths flap
ping wings and glazing eyes Then
they began peckng match, whichwa
followed by some high kicking, for
ward, backward and sidewise. while
thew are too tough to be much hurt BY
their own kicks, they have been known
to break the arms and legs of men by
them,'' said Mr. Protheroe. The
birds viii be taken to California soon.
Mr. Protheroe thinks his ostrich farm.
ing in America will be entirely success
full. Y. Sun.