Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-09-09
BIRDS OF FINE FEATHERS.
a Description of Visit to the Only
Farm for OstrIches on This Side the
World.

From Los 4 ngeles Lettsr.
AS we drew near, boards bearing the
legend, ''Ostrich farm, visitors admitted
only on Sundays and Wednesdays" and
placed in conspicuous positions, met the
eye. We looked at each other in despair,
for this was Friday. sob, they can't be
so cruel as not to let US in, when we have
driven % miles 10 see the ostriches," said
our hopeful one. We came TO a row of
posts, and painted on the fence near by
was the mandate, glitch horses here"
We were met by the inevitable ChinRman
who in pigeon English gave US to under
stand that the "boss" was away, but he
thought we could see the birds. He led us
to the entrance to the inclosure and dis
appeared. Presently he returned, bring
ing with him pleasant-taced young
man.
''The doctor is away" he said, "but
can show you around.v SO saving, he
unlocked the gate, and the mysteries were
revealed The large space was sub
divided into many different Enclosures,
IN which were confined The Ostriches.
How many are there?" The doctor
imported eleven pairs at a cost of about
$1,000 "A pair, One killed his mate, which
is the only accident we have had. They
are all perfectly well now and in excellent
condition"
WhIle he spoke we heard strange
noise like the subdued believing Of a bull.
"rhat is one OF them growing" SAID our
guide. "That fellow crows all the time"
We looked at the unsteady inclined
ostrich. His long neck swelled 10 more
than twice It's usual thickness. and he
sent forth crow after crow with great APP
parent satisfaction. The old fellow who
had killed his mate seemed greatly
cnraged by the performances OF bis COM
patriot, and looked "a il he would ike TO
cross the division fence and commit an
other murder. The fence seemed low.
Cannot they get acrOss" was asked.
mo, they cannot jump at all, we we're
told. "lhey are very ill-tempered. Great
caution is necessary in approaching them.
We feed them upon alfalfa and green
barley, with corn once a day. Their
water comes from an artesian well"
"DOes the dampness affect their plumes -
asked a lady. II think IL does. Some
process of the curling and dressing
is necessary before pucking, which :
done about once IN nine months. We get
fourteen plumes from each wing" "Are
these allY" was another question. There
are some young Onos in the incubating
room, but they are not shown 70 visitors.
Very few are allowed TO enter that build
ing. l had been here some time before
was permitted 20 20 inside, and wo have n
man here now who has been with us ave
weeks and has not yet seen the interior.
We keep ~ good watchdog for the sole
purpose OF guarding the incubating
room" "ls the experiment paYlugY
asked "the grand iuQuisitOr" ~ avn not
in the DOCTORS confidence" answered our
friend.
We walked around, wondering AZ the
strange sight. The enormous creatures
seemed coutented, ana, as hc had said, in
the finest physical condition. some were
eating corn greedily. "Ihe ostrich u the
oid-time stury-books ate pieces of glass
and stones. Apparently you 10 not feed
these upon that sort OF food" "They
prefer barley and corn for steady diet,
though one Of them took fancy To- n gold
boxed compass the other day and ate II
with a relish, and we keep heap OF shells
IN each inclosure."