Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1888-08-18
AN OSTRICH FARM.
Watching a Young Bird Break On,
of Its Immense Shell.

We passed along with scarce glance
at the side shows, for we were anxious
to face an ostrich-with a stout fence
between. We found as we approached
that this protective provision was doub.y
emphasized, for there were two stout
wooden Ratings keeping us at respect
ful distance from his majesty, stalking
around in solitary grandeur, or stopping
TO gaze at us with q vicious craniny of
his long, lean neck. There were 90 full
grown Ostriches, each in a separate
pen, or rather open space fenced in.
They looked about seven feet high. even
tailor when they suddenly stretched
out their necks. But, oh, the gorge
business OF their wings! Great masses
OF rich, black, velvety ostrich plumes.
dropping of into snow-white cluster nj
their tips. wonder that kings do not
renounce the traditional ermine and as.
sumo these more majestic emblems C
royalty. These birds are perfectly bare
above the neck and legs, and although
their whole body is covered with rich
plumes, the fullest and longest and
choicest are gathered from their wings,
Twice year they are plucked, and the
annual revenues which they bring to
their possessor is, according to ali ac-
counts, quite little fortune. The fin
est pair are valued at $500. Thew live
on alfalfa, sort of clover (of which
this country produces three and four
crops year,, pounded oyster shells and
corn, their prodigious digestive powers
rather snubbed, it seems to me, by this
mild diet; perhaps, however, it serves to
elacken their depraved propensities. for
was told that only a short time before
one OF the keepers was pecked and bitten
to death by the savage onslaught of one
ofthese birds. The ostrich eggs are bnoe
ana'rs, as large around as quart meas.
ure. They lay out in the open field. and
Just as l was hanging over the fence.
wlckedly waving my jacket to make the
majestic ostrich perform an undignified
pirouette. ono Of the eggs broke omen
and out popped little ostrich. I'M
mediately there was a great connection
and rybody rushed breathlessly in
our direction. The keeper was told the
news and came hurrying on with eiacu.
lations OF surprise. He yaulted the two
fences at the furthest distance from the
mother ostrich and made in the direction
d the newcomer; but when tho mother /
bird took long strides in his direction.
md manifested lively curiosity as to
ais purpose, the keeper vaulted again
'vcr the nearest fence and disappeared
rom the scene. It was quite comical TO
ee the old bird with her newborn off.
pring.. At first she disdained to notice
he little thing, which looked about the
ize OF two-months-o!d chicken. and
ought to follow the parental guidance
y running few steps, and then ouite
Unexpectedly topping over or turning a
ee6le somersanlt. had quite hateful
ceilings against the mother bird. who
y this time stood prancing before ma
nth her long. beautiful drOopy plumes.
think she saw by our expressions that
e did notapprove of such Spartan moth
rhood, such unnatural calming of the
for she Immediately turned
pom her heel and bestowed q motberlv
lss upon her solitary scion. There was I
thrill OF satisfaction along the whole I
ne OF spectators when she finally s.t
erself down upon her nest and drew the
yly dnckling under the shelter of her u
ssly.plumaeed wings.