Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-14
ON AN OSTRICH FARM.
Growing the Big Birds in the Colonies
of South Africa.
CHICKS ARE COMICAL BEAUTIES.
Kaffirs Pull Out the Stubs of the Feathers
With their Teeth.
APPETITE OF THE SECRETARY BIRD

In the early days of ostrich farming
splendid fortunes were made. Then feathers
were worth a10O per pound, the plumes Of
one bird at a single plucking realizing on an
average a25 For a good pair of breeding
birds e400, or even e500, was no uncommon
price; and little chicks, only just out Of the
egg, were worth e10 each. Indeed, the un-
hatched eggs have been sometimes valued at
the same amount. But since the supply has
become so much greater than the demand
things are sadly changed for the farmer; our
best pair of ostriches would not now sell for
more than e12. And experience has taught
us to look for no higher sum than 80 shillings
for the feathers of the handsomest bird at
one plucking. At the same time, If lady
wishes to buy a good feather In London or
In Paris, she has to pay nearly the same
price as in former times.
There are not many young animals pret-
tier than a little ostrich chick during the
first few weeks of life, writes Annie Martin
from an ostrich farm South Africa, in very
clever contribution to literature. 1t has
such a sweet, innocent baby face, such large
eyes, and such plump, round little body.
All its movements are comical, and 8here is
an air of conceit and independence about
the tiny creature which is most amusing.
HIS PRETTY STRIPED COAT.
Instead of feathers it has little rough
coat which seems all made up of narrow
strips Of material, of as many different shades
of brown and grey as there are in tailor's
pattern book, mixed with shreds of black;
while the head and neck are apparently COW
cred with the softest plush, striped and col
ored just like tigers skin on a small scale.
On the whole, the little fellow on his first
appearance in the world is not unlike
hedgehog on two legs, with along neck.
On large farm, when plucking is con-
templated, it is anything but an easy mat
ter to collect the birds; the gathering togeth-
er of ours was generally work of three
days. Men have to be sent out in all direc-
tions to drive the birds up, BY twos and
threes, from the far off spots to which they
have wandered. Little troops are gradually
brought together, and collected, first, in
large inclosure, then in a small one, the
plucking kraal, in which they are crowded
together so closely that the most savage bird
has no room to make himself disagreeable.
| Besides the gates through which the
ostriches are driven into the kraal, there is
an outlet at the opposite end through the
"plueking box" This latter is a most USE
| full invention, saving much time and
trouble. 1t is a very solid wooden box, in
which though there is just room for an os-
trich to stand, he cannot possibly turn
round; nor can he kick, the sides of the box
being too high.
PLUCKING THE BIG BIRDS.
At each end there is stout door, and after
more or less of a scuff1e he is pushed in and
the door slammed behind him. Then the
two operators, standing one on each side of
| the box, have him completely in their
power, and with a few rapid snips Of their
shears his splendid wings are soon denuded
| of their long white plumes. These, TO pre-
vent their tips from being spoiled, are
always cut before the quills Are ripe. The
stumps Of the latter are allowed to remain
| some two or three months longer, until they
| are so ripe that they can be pulled out
| generally by the teeth of the kaffirs-with-
out hurting the bird. 1t is necessary to pull
them; the feathers, which by their weight
would have caused the stumps to fall out
naturally at the right time, being gone. -
Some farmers, anxious to hurry on the
next crop of feathers, are cruel enough to
draw the stumps before they are ripe, but
nature. as usual, resents the interference
with her laws, and the feathers of birds
which have been thus treated soon dete-
riorate. 1t is best to pluck only once a
year. The tails and the glossy black quills
| are not cut, but pulled out; this, every one
says, does not hurt the birds, but there is an
| unpleasant tearing sound about the opera
tion which / think must make their eyes
water.
| SWALLOWED KITTENS ALIVE.
Among the numerous pets the farm
from which 1 write, says Mrs. Martin, IS
secretary bird. He was like boa-con-
strictor in his capacity for ''putting himself
outside" the animals on which he fed
lizards, rats, toads, frogs, fat, juicy locusts,
Young chickens. alas! and some of the
smaller pets, if lett incautiously within his
| reach, even little kittens-all went down
whole The last named animals were his
favourite delicaey, and he was fortunate
enough while at Walmer to get plenty of
them. His enormous appetite, and our
difficulty in satisfying it, were well known
in tine neighborhood, anu the owners of
several prolific cats, instead of drowning the
superhuous progeny, bestowed them on US
as offerings to Jacob. They were killed
and given to him at the rate Of one day.
Once however, by an unlucky accident,
one of them got into his clutches without
the preliminary knock on the head, and the
old barbarian swallowed it alive. For
some minutes we could hear the poor thing
mewing piteously in Jacobs interior, while
he himself stood there listening and looking
all around in a puzzled manner to see where
the noise came from. He evidently thought
there was another kitten somewhere, and
seemed much disappointed at not finding it.
| SNAKES OF SOUTH AFRICA.
Snakes are, it seems, indeed, one of the
greatest drawbacks to South African life.
| There are so many OF them, they are of such
| deadly sorts, and the obtrusive familiarity
| and utter absence of ceremony with which
they come into the houses render the nerves
| of newly arrived inmates liable at any mo-
| ment to receive a severe shock.
After time, OF course. finding that every
| one you meet has some startling experiences
to relate of the discovery of intrusive snakes
| in all sorts of places where they were most
unlocked for and least observable, you be-
come somewhat Injured to this unReasant
| feature OF colonial existence, and move
about your house with the caution OF one
who would not be surprised to find snake
anywhere.