Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1889-12-24
OSTRICH FARMING.
How the Bird OF the Beautiful
Plumage Ia Raised.
A California Industry That Returns Good
Profits, Though the RIskA Arc Great-
Como of tho Ways and Charac-
torIstics OF tho Ostrich.


Among the many points Of interest about
this city is the Pasadena Ostrich Farm,
writes Cincinnati ENQUIRER correspondent
from Pasadena, Cal. tits only short ride
from town.
On one OF the fnnumerable sunny cloud
less days that como TO Southern California
we visited the ostrich farm. Over the en-
trance gate ore the wordss "Admission
twenty-five cents" We had been invited
to look at tho rare birds. so our purses were
none the lighter for the visit.
Before us was a picketcd Enclosure, over
one side Of which canvas is tackled, that the
curious passers-by may not have view of
the ostriches without paying the admission
tee.
Leaving the carriage we walked along to
the far side of the Enclosure. AS we stood
before the fence the keeper gave peculiar
call and tho ostriches hurried toward us.
We ha expected such gre at birds to move
aWkwardly. Instead, they move with an
easy, gliding gait not unlike the camels.
Perhaps both acquired it IN the same way
from walking over the deep sands in their
native land. -..... ' -.
There must have been twelve or fifteen
ostriches in tho corral. They are strange
looking creatures, with long, bare legs,
broad, fiat bodies, and long, serpent-like
bright eyes. The body of the ostrich is
from four to Ave feet high, and the head
rises high above the back, eight or ten feet
from the ground.
AS we gazcd at the strange birds ono OF
our party remarked, laughingly, that the
saying, "a bird in the hand, ETC. - seemed
TO have lost it's meaning. ..
Standing before eight or ten of the queer
birds. with their small heads darting here
and there, by the quick twists and curves
Of the snale-like necks, is enough to mase
one uncomfortable. The legs are so stilt-
like tnat, for q time, only scaly, bare legs
and writhing necks impressed us.
We offered few. oranges in our out
stretched hands. The necks wriggled over
the high fence and quickly the oranges
were snatched from our open hands and
swallowed whole.
We know that this is true, for we saw
them passing down through the long,
slender neclls. The most fortunate of the
ostriches showed two or three distensiona
Of the neck ... ...
The birds foot has two toes-indeed, it
may be said to have one great toe with
another seemingly undeveloped.
But it is for its plumago that the ostrich
is noted. We turned our attention to tho
plumage.
The great bodies are thicl1ly covered with
overlapping feathers, looking somewhat
liko thoroughly worn-out tips. The mae
birds nre black; the females O. brownish
gray.
We were greatly surprised to see the
number Of plumes on tho wings-not less
than thirty or forty overlapping On the tip
of each wing. ..... ...
The keeper threw several handfuls OF
corn to the ostriches, also some alfalfa "a
kind Of hay), cut up and wet with water.
They seemed greedy, but we were told it
Gid not require great deal to keep them
While the heads were darting about for.
the feed on the ground the keeper lifted
ono of the wings and ran his hand through
the mass Of feathers, calling forth an ex-
clamation Of surprise and delight from each
of US.
The finest, heaviest plumes in which
women always delight are tho tail feathers
tho soft white ones are from tho tai OF the
male bird. Long white feathers also tip
tho wings of tho male, but the most of his
wing feathers are black.
These are the three natural colors-blaclk,
white and Rray--aud after cleaning the
feathers are ready for use, If the natural
color Is desired. or course, the white ones
must DO bleached, and If some color other
than those mentioned is desired, it Is OBJ
tanned by dyeing.
Attic furm the wing feather may be had
for about 81 30. tho price varying with the
size Of tho feathers.
An ostrich egg ia about the length Of
ones hand aud about as wide, in form like q
hons egg, excepting that lis less pointed.
1t is heavy in proportion to its size, for the
shell Is very thick; in appearance IL is like
porcelain. We saw three shells "blown
out" like Easter eggs. The price Of the
empty shell is i1.50f The fresh eggs are
not to be had at any price,
From early times their plumes have been
admired and worn. The demand for them
seems 10 be increasing rather than dimin-
ishing Their demand has made what is.
called 'ostrich farming" very profitable in
Africa. In wild stats from five TO fifty
ostriehes may be found together. The nest
10 u shallow piS seraped out Of the sand with
their feet. In this nest from four TO five
females lay their eggs. When ten to twelve
eggs are laid the cocas begins to brood.
During the night he is surrounded by his.
wives. This is presumably to guard the
nest from Jockals and other wild animals,
rather than to assist In hatching the eggs, for,
they are often left for days to the heat or
the sun only. About thirty eggs are laid
in the neat and aa many more are scattared