The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1885-06-17
ABOUT THE OSTRICH.

All blrds-Its HaDlts, Etc.
1 OF all the birds that show the wonder
full resources of infinite wisdom in their
construction perhaps the ostrich is the
qteerest, as it certainly is the largest,
being among the birds what the ele-
plant is among animals-a full-sized
male standing erect measuring eight
feet and more. With Its long head and
neck it can overlook the tallest bushes
and reeds in which it chooses to hide,
and its legs are said 10 be the swiftest
in the world.
Unlike other birds the wings are used
for running instead of flying, and with
them they can take at every step stride
Of from twelve to fourteen feet, almost
across a good-sized room.
The natives of Africa ride the ostrich,
and Arabs have been known to cross
the desert upon their backs, though
they sometimes run at frightful speed.
When in motion the legs are invisible,
like the spokes of wheel, which gives
the bird the appearance Of flying at a
little distance from the ground.
This strange bird seldom drinks, and
ats food Is as often old iron and brass as
pnnything else. The ostrich swallows
iron and a great many hard things just
as hen swallows stones, and it is said
ny tnose VINO nave watched their habits
that they VIII not discriminate between
cold and not; even red-hot iron they
nave been known TO swallow. The
appetlte OF the ostrich is as Unsuitable as
their capacity is great, and almost any
thing that comes in their way becomes
their iood--old rags newspapers, bones,
wood, stones and even glass! ...l.
AS pebbles and stones are used to
grind up the food OF the hen, all these
hard Things answer to the same purpose
TO the ostrich.
Being great thief 1t will make way
in moment with anything that comes
within It's reach, even.to q gold watch
and chain' which one OF these birds
once purioned from the pocket OF a
gentleman VINO at some exhibition ap-
proached IL 700 closely. AT a single
mouthIul IL was gone out Oh slght.
Inc natural iood OF the ostrich Is
grass gram iruits' rats mice, insects
IN lact' anything OF the sort that they
can get' ana tney can go a long Tune
lwithout drlnK aitogether IL need be!
let they really nave something as
substitute winch grows In the desert, a
sort OF Wlld melon that a6sorbs the
moisture OF the atmosphere IN the cool
nights-truly watermelon to travel
ers as wen, VINO often are astonished TO
'nnd them IN places where they would
not beheye drop oil water ever came
Inc eggs OF the ostrich are immense,
a single egg being equal to two dozen
men s eggs! Inc mother BIRD hoilows
out place IN the SAND and lays her
eggs In IL by day she aDandons them
to the heat OF the sun, which In those
countries Is very great, put always at
night she or the male VIII cover them.
They are very social birds, often us
ing the same nest in company until
itnere are from Sixty TO seventy eggs IN
o nest oil several ieet In diameter. Sew
eral eggs are LETT outside, and are not
meant to be Matched, as you will see.
$50 -
still laying. and as II taxes nearly two
months for an egg to Eatch, they can
not all come out together' NOW see
what wise provision AS soon as the
young ostrich appears, which is then
the size oil good iat hen, the mother
Eakes 1t TO one OF the scattered eggs,
which she breaks ior It's food. In this
way the little ostrlches nave someting
70 live upon until the whole family Is
PATCHED and the mother at liberty to
BOX after them. Often the bird begins
60 lay before she has thought OF nest.
Travellers finding them in the desert
las probably given rise to the story that
hey are apt to forsake their eggs.
You ask II the eggs are good for
bodP The Hottentots and "Bushmen"
hink 30. A lean Bushman will eat one
these huge eggs at meal, cooked in
their own peculiar way and this Is the
way he hunts them. When he finds a
nest he pulls OF his pantaloons, made
OF Skln9 T1uHlY SEWN IOVeI0GT. anu UeS