Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-07-19

were left corralled in the city of San Diego
while he explored the country for suitable
location for their permanent settlement.
He finally located in the valley of the San
Luis Rev, about seven miles from the
town of Fall Brook, the clear, dry air, the
good water and shelter afforded by the
Santa Rosa hills furnishing the proper con-
ditions Here the birds have thrived, the
old ones maintaining apparently their
natural Vigor The ostrich natures at four
and five years. The breeding birds are kept
corralled in pairs, one acre OF land to each
pair.
The Corral at Coronado.
AT the corral at Coronado Beach, which
Is 225 feet wide by 500 feet long, inclosed
by high board fence, there were when I
visited it IL large ostriches-one months
old and one days old. The corral is on an
island of roses--a veritable paradise-pro-
fusely ayenued with the waving palm and
the pretty cypress The infant ostrich was
very shy, nesting in the warm sand and
bathing in the suns rays. 1t was as large
as a duck, and had short, chubby, round
head and a short beak. On my appearing
1t started on a run, which resembled a hop
and skip. 1t seemed to be eating sand
grain at time When the sun was sink
ing in the west the baby ostrich was put in
warm quarters.
The 6-months-old-bird was a shaggy,
lanky, awkward thing, probably standing
three feet IN its "bare feet" Two toes ars
all the African ostrich can boast OF, but 1t
can kick very vigorously with them. Kick
ing is their mode of fighting. The full
grown ostriches were kept in q separate in
closure They stand from four to five feet
and their long necks can reach distance Of
about six feet higher, making reach of IL
feet. Their legs have no feathers and their
necks are nearly as bare, but their bodies
are covered with the beautiful plumage.
When they attempt to run they have the
appearance of "knock-kneed dancing-ma
ter on q trot.
What Feathers Are Worth
Their tails are white and short, but their
wings are composed of beautiful plumes
The tips of the feathers are black and un-
derneath are white. The most valuable
plumes are those not exposed. They are
perfectly white. Samples were shown me-
at prices averaging from S. to 81 for choice
and from 81 to IS for common. The tips
run from 10 cents to S6 set. They are in
great demand among the guests at the Hotel
Del Coronado during the winter months for
balls and other society affairs. A plume
consists of two feathers made into one. The
tips are also double. The fine feathers ars
made into collarettes for ladies at from So
to SO each and boas eight or nine feet long
ut from $50 to $50 each. Fans also are made
here and sell readily; also feather trimming
and aigrettes for the hair.
The birds are picked once in every nine
months and from one to one and half
pounds are secured at picking. The aver
age profit is about 500 bird each picking.
OF course the wing feathers are the most
valuable.
The ostriches feed principally on vegeta-
bles of any and all kinds and on fruit. On
the average they eat eight pounds per day
each. Some corn is fed to them, but not
much. Their eggs are laid in the sand, and
Mr.. Palmer, the superintendent, has an in
eubator that matches the eggs successfully.
The incubator holds 25 eggs and will hatch
in six weeks. The ostriehes at Coronado
laid so eggs up to May g. There are four
laying birds this season. The eggs weigh
from two to four pounds each and measure
nine inches long by six inches wide. They
are yellow in color and at times nearly
white and are much speckled. If the birds
are not allowed to hatch they take rest OF
six weeks and then commence to lay again.
The Birds Bring $500 Each.
At the Fall Brook ranch there are 1Oe
birds, "a birds having been raised lass
season. They are sold at 5000 each, or 81 900
for pair, full grown. The birds have no
memory, Yves informed, and when COR
rected will forget Immediately and do the
same thing over again. They are continu.
ally on the run and spread out their pretty
wings when running like the sails of ship,
One bird has lost an eye from fighting, and
they fight very savagely. They seem to
dislike the young birds very much.
The meat of an ostrich is dark and some
thing similar to venison. 1t is rather e1-
pensive at $500 per bird. They eat sea
shells when broken up for them, and are
eating sand apparently all the time. The
male bird has a red mark down the front OF
the legs; the female bird is gray in color,
the male jet black with q white tail The
average life of the ostrich is 40 years, and
there is no question but that the raising Of
ostriches will be one of the best paying in
dustries in Southern California.
Gus ROBERTS.