The sun., 1883-10-28
oSTRTCHEs IN ELORxDI.
A Attempt TO Raise the Giant Birds for
tk~tr Feather. In this Country.


A few days ago Sir. Charlton Jones Of Syl.
van Lake. Florida. left this city with three
pairs Of fine ostriches. which he recently re-
ostriches for their feathers. Although the cli-
mate Of Florida is not quite like that OF Nubia
yet he thinks It is very probable that the giant
birds will thrive and multiply In their now
dwelling place. In different places in North
and South Africa there are many ostrich farms,
whore the birds are raised specially for their
feathers. The feathers are usually cut of only
once year. but ostrichcs which receive special
care yield annually two and even three crops OF
feathers. When 1t Is considered that ostriches
live from forty to fifty years. and that yenrlng
birds yield marketable feathers. 1t 10 clear that
an ostrich farm ought to be profitable. The ar
tilcial breeding of ostriches is perhaps tho best
pnyng branch Of aviculturr. About three wears
ago chicks Just ont of the egg were sold ut 800
to s25 apiece at one month OF age thuy brought
$50 to 1856 at six months. SOS to 500: at year.
500 to $3.50 and at two years about $3.50 A
pair OF ostrlches Of full age-that lie. years old
-then commanded $500 to $450. But now. as
the number OF ostrich farms has been greatly
ihcrensel pair of good ostriches can be
The ostricnes yielding the hest feathers are
found In North Africa. but their number is
hsr bnvs SIs sS2 ~ ,hs sirSh
Natal and the Transvanl, countries lying at
the same distance from the equator as Florida.
mestic ostriehes in those countries has in
creased up to 100 600 en! their yield Of isa,h,
raises only about sl.O00OOo worth Of scatiers.
nnd Nigeria. Tuhis, and Trtpoli altogether
cfs raised III the latter countries are superior
to those raised in south Africa. but the dirnr-
ence is not very great. and the ien hers OF Cape
The Matching Of ostrich chicks TAKES forty.
two dnys. The eggs are about six inches long
'yo Hs T ssgs The osreh ehak 1 R
a few days reaches th, size of an ordinary hen.
1t is covered with light brown down. through
needles like those OF the heiEclo: Tho chick
o! one mouth is Of the sizo of turkey and its
ers The body Of IN ostrich half u year old is
about the size OF that Of an average man. Its
feathers reach good size but they are not
from tho crown up ones: they feed upoSS
hocks Of from twelve 70 fifteen birds in n place
surrounded by ditch or u fence of creeping
plants. However insecure the fence may be.
the ostrches never attempt to pass IT. 1t often
happens that domestic osirehes nttnck mon,
and particularly, strangers. aIthnmHh in the wild
y man An ostrich strives TO strike hin with It's
feet. Such blows are very dangerous. There
has been Jroksn by them. II man has as no no
arms TO defend himself. and no way Of escn re.
the lrst lhing lor llm 10 DO iS to throw himself
On the ground. for then the ostrich cannot
strike him n hard blow. When enraged. how
ever. the ostrich does not leave lis victim but
watches him until he riaes and then furiousy
reuews the attack. Under such circumstances
Il man has only one means Of escupe. namely
cree p,ng to s9mS place OF safety such as tree
savage aud bloody. The males bravely defend
their nests. and they sit on the eggs from p.
aud remain on the, mes, until 5,P. NJ, While on
the nest the ostrich lays its neck on the ground.
SO that an neNp.ricnced person might mistake
it for n heap OF earth. On leaving the nest
even domestic nstriches make several Jumps
and curious motions cal Gu iatcd TO m se;ld their
hIe, themselves in bushes or behind stones.
Wildcats. hyenas. !ackals. wolves, and tigers
land. The tricks to which these beasts resort
known. Ostrich farmers usually bait the beasts
with poisoned meat to save their 1lncks.
cousins SO Of ] the "roeodirs Of the Nile. WY then
muy not ostriches thrive in Fiorida2