Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1888-04-26
OSTRICH FARMING IN AFRICA.

The business /, Not prosperous
something about the Big Birds.
Ostrich farmers in South Africa are
n; present suffering MS much from bad
times us our aCriculturists at home,
Feathers that were formerly worth f25
now only ring thirty shilings, and a
PAL OF birds that could not be bought
some cars ago under several hundred
pounds would not at present fetch more
than Gl2. Some time ago gentleman
prospecting was looking over fence
into camp when an ostrich spied a
diamond in his pin. and in an instant
picked ut aud swallowed it.
A sort of court-martial was held, the
relative vAlues of the bird and the dia-
mond being accurately calculated. The
ostr ch WAS worth flO0 aud the pin
600, SO the ostrich was spared. The
verdict would now bc most decidedly
the other way. Tho only redeeming
feature in ostrich farming nowadays
is the amusement 10 be got out of
studying The WAYS of these weird birds,
VIII ch look as # only by some mistake
they hal survived the deiuge. and that
they would be more in their right place
Undecided IN the fossiliferous strata of
the earth than racing about on its sur
face. Ugly awkward and brainless as
are these BIRDS when full grown. there
f..txy at tAn
an ostrich chick during the first few
weeks of its life. Ii has II sweet, limo.
cent. bab face. large eyes and plump.
round body.
All its movements are comical. and
there is an ar of conceit and independ-
cnce about this tiny creature, while
still scarcely able to stand. that Is most
amusing. Instead of feathers the chick
has rough coat of ms many shades of
brown and cray as n Ia Tor s pattern
book. This is striped W TIL shreds OF
black. the neck being covered with
what resembles tho Softest silk plush.
One would Ike these delightful little
creatures to rcina n always babies, for
W tn their growth they lose their pref
ness, their bod es become angular and
.prOporiinncd. and crop OF course.
wiry feathers replaces the parti-colored
str pes VIII cli form the baby clothes,
The chicken feathers are first pluck
ed ut nine months old. and look only fit
to he mn'le into distinguishes. In
the second year they are little like the
ostrich feathers of commerce.. but stiff
and narrow. aud 1t is not II the third
YEAR that tho have alta ned their full
W dlh ami s"ftness. During the two
first years the male and female birds are
III Ike, but at each moulting the male
becomes darker, until tho plumage is
all black, except the wing and tail
which are white In each wing there
are twent -four long feathers. During
the breeding season the b II Of the male
bird. the large scales on the fore part
Of the leg, and sonnet mes the skin OF
the head and neck, assume II deep rose
color. After a good rain o>triches be.
gin TO make nests. At this time the
male becomes savage. and their "boom.
ing becomes savage.
The b ri initiates lis neck like CO.
bra, and gives three deep roars. the
two first short and ''staccato' the third
prolonged When the BIRDS are savage
it is imposS bic to walk about the camp
unless with 'racke ~ the name Civ.
Ell to II long stout, thornv branch of
mimosa. Fortunately, only one bird
will attack at a time, and only on the
territory. which bN some tribal arrange.
ment, is go dercd his exclusive prop
erty. Thus. during IL mornings walk
through the camp. the owner will he
attacked by several cious birds in
success on, all determ ned TO have his
life if possible yet all held completely
in cheek by vigorous use of the
'tackey." When an ostrich challenges
he sits down. and, Tapping each wing
alternately, initiates his neck. throws
his head back, rolling It from side to
side. and with each roll striking the
back of his head against h bony body
with so sharp and resembling n blow
that a severe headache seems likely to
be the result. 1t often happens that,
in seIf-defense, these vicious males
general, the first brds) have to he
k He'd. -Saturdny ReUieW.