Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1885-07-01

bringing from one hundred and fifty to
two hundred dollars a pound. It takes
about eighty feathers to make a pound.
The black and gray are the less
esteemed,
On the coasts of Africa, in European
settlements, there are regular ostrich
farms where the birds are raised ex-
pressly for their feathers. 1t REQUIRES
only a low wall to keep them from get
ting out, as they cannot fly high, the
largest quill feathers of the wing being
entirely wanting: Though very fine,
the feathers of the domesticated birds
are less beautiful than those of the wild
ones.
You will wonder if the ostrich can
out-run horse, how hunters can ever
catch them. They have to use a great
deal of strategy. Sometimes they hide
in a pit near the nest in the absence of
the old birds, shooting them when they
come back at nj ght, or, which is most
effective, dressing in the skin and
feathers of the bird, their own legs
answering very we'll for those of the
ostrich. They manoeuvre the neck
and head with one arm, while carrying
bow and poisoned arrows concealed.
Disguised in this way, the hunters are
sometimes able to get near large
flock and secure several of the finest
birds before they are aware of their
approach.
Nowadays horses are used in hunting
the ostrich, racing with them for
hours until the legs of the birds become
so stiff that they can run no further, and
are obliged to succumb, running their
heads into some bush, supposing them
selves hidden, the head with them SEEM
ing to be the important part to get out
of the way. AS the ostrich never takes a
straight course, but always runs in sort
of circle, the horseman has another adj
vantage. In whatever way they are
killed it is very important not to stain
the feathers, for large ostrich with
it's plumage in good condition is worth
from eighty to ninety dollars.
Sometimes the ostrich gets exasper-
ated and gives battle to the hunter,
kicking his adversary violently, which
kick is as dangerous as that of horse.
1t not only kicks backward like horse,
but forward, inflicting terrible wounds
with strong sharp claw with which it
is armed. It is said that the ostrich is
able to defend itself against the most
ferocious beasts of the desert, and that
the only foe it really breads is man.
Thus in the absence of wings with
which to fly they have been given a
powerful weapon with which to pro-
tect themselves OH land. What won
derful Creator!
The shea is the ostrich of South
America. Though only half the size
of it's African cousin still it is very
handsome bird and of fair size. The
wings are small, but abundantly fur
nished with long, flexible, soft feathers
which spread like snowy sail as it
runs. The sheas are very pretty and
very funny birds. They have a very
curious habit of drawing in their necks,
shaking out their long wing feathers,
and saluting each othera if they were
overcome with joy, and then dashing
about in a headlong frolic, and running
blindly against fence, or bush, much
to their discontinue.
The cassowary, found in the Malaccas,
belongs to the ostrich family. They
are easily tanned, and soon become
very much attached to their owners.
They are exceedingly mischievous,
and, like all their species, great
thieves-always feeling privileged to
help themselves.
An English naturalist once owned a
pair of these birds which were alto
gether too familiar upon his premises.
He tells of them, that no sooner would
his cuffs be starched and hung out on
the line than one of these birds would
step up, and before any one could stop
it swallow them instantly.
At another time he had a carpenter
at work about the yard, who came
rushing into his study in great alarm,
doctor! oh, doctor! come quick,
one Of those birds Of: yours has been
and swallowed my oil stone. It'll kill
the creature sure if you don't give him
something
"Oh, it's just like him, Patrick" the
doctor cody replied. He'll take your
hammer and chisel next; look out"
The carpenter went back to his
work, greatly disturbed, nor would he
90 on till the bird was placed in con-
tinement; and then even he could not
get over his solicitude for it's welfare,
to say nothing of the loss of his favorite
stone.
This account of the ostrich is only
one among thousands, which show the
skill and goodness of God in so wisely
adapting the very shape and limbs OF
his creatures to the habits of life by
which they are to be distinguished.