The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1889-09-28

deposited in the hollow nest they scoop
out for resting place for the eggs,
Then these birds are very sensitive and
take fright and offense very easily, and
ii the eggs are handled even, or the nest
but slightly disturbed, she will forsake
the next. Sometimes they will leave it
when the chicks are nearly ready to
break through the shell. The risk in
getting chicks hatchcd is quite as great,
especially with young birds, as it has
proved with the incubatOrs. Various
experiments were made and many eggs
spoiled before an incubator Was found
that was at all reliable.
The ostrich laws an egg every third
day. The eggs are large, many of them
five OF six inches through the long dia-
meter and they weigh from three to five
pounds each. The shell is usually very
thick, sometimes One-sixteenth of an
inch. The contents resemble that of 4
hens egg, and amount to forty fluid
ounces. The period of incubation is
variously given ut from thirty eight to
forty-two days, and doubtless depends
upon the vitality and development of
the chick. The average in California
is thirty-ninc days. The young chick
can be heard i'll its shell days before it
appears. 1t is sometimes necessary to
assist the chick in breaking the shell.
In the wilds of Africa the crows have
learned to crush the ostrich eggs by let
ting stones fall on them from Il height.
I'm Africa the empty shells are used to
carry water; a network of grass is made,
so that several may he carried at once.
In California there is a ready sale for
! the empty shell, in some instances as
high as 50 being paid for them as
curiosity.
| The ostrich industry began in Cape
! Colony III 1867, with eighty-tive birds,
/ but when Il decade had rolled around
! the number had increased to -, 241 os-
triches. Then the industry began to at
| tract general attention. The demand
for birds for farming purposes was 50
| great, especially for the next few years,
/ that fabulous prices were realized by
those who had birds to sell. There are
now more than 10O,0 ostriches Ill
South Africa. The value of the eypOr-
tation of feathers from Africa was, at
last accounts, the enormous sum of
( 1000, 900 ut least. The New York inn
porter, have long enjoyed monopoly
III this business, and many large for
tunes have been made by them.
DIR. Duncan, vino prepared the paper
on ostrich farming for the department,
is an enthusiast on the general utility Of
the ostrich. Ostriches can be utilized
as food, and may come TO rank high rs
an article of diet when SO numerous as
to he protitoblc in that direction. The
egg has been regarded rs rare dellcacy
i'll Africa. When an ostrich i'll South
Africa is killed. from accident or other
causes, every part of the bird IS utilized.
The first step Is t. remove the skin SD
ms to preserve the feathers uninlurod.
The next Is t. melt the tat, which Is
poured into bags made Of the skin of the
thighs tied in the lower end. The grease
or fat of the bird in good condition Will
ill the skin of both legs, which hold
about four gallons; not only Is 1t eaten
with bread and used in the preparation
of ''kookoosDO" and other foods, hut the
Arabs regard it as Il useful application
in certain inaladicS. In all eases of
rheumatism OF acute pains IT Is used by
being we'll rubbed i'll, and then the al
fectcd parts are covered with heated
sand.
Those who have tasted ostrich meat
state that it is both wholesome and pal
atabe, although, as might he expected
in the wild bird, it is somewhat lean
and tough. When the birds have been
domesticated, however, and fed on clover
and grain, the meat becomes Juicy and
tender.
Experiments have been made from
3 time to time with n view to test the cap
I ability of the ostrich i'll drawing and
l carrying burdens. DIR. Sparrman,
: century ago Q775), saw mounted os-
/. triches at the Cape; and before him
I Moore had recorded his having cecn an
Englishman at Joar travelling long
! distances upon bridled ostrich.
j When domestic,ted in Texas, rs they
d doubtless will be. says DR.. Duncan, We
e expect to hear that the cowboys utilize
/ ostriches in herding cattle. Their fleet
Il ness should make them excellent mounts
for scouts and couriers.
d Even the skeleton OF an ostrich com
e mands good price for public museums
e Prof. Ward. of Rochester. asks $40 10
!. n full mounted ostrich skeleton.-lD DE
Il troit Free Press.
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