The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-04-12
Hnmnrs of the Ostrich.

The ostrich is not n bird that can be easily
brought up IN the way that II should 60. IL
has no powers of discrimination. because
God hath deprived her of wisdom. neither
hath he impaired 70 her understanding" ~
runs the description Of the ostrich IN the
Book Of job. il cannot discriminate between
wire fence and the open camp, be-
tween friends and foes, or between what IS
helpful and what IS hurtful - its digestion.
Ii was owing 10 its want Of understanding
in this last respect, and 70 an equal want OF
discrimination on the part Of the British pub
lie. that it has been found impossible 10 keep
ostriches alive IN the Geological Gardens IN
London. A public accustomed 10 slip pennies
into automatic machines could not refrain
from the temptation offered by the Omni-
vOrOus throat Of an ostrich, and filled
them up with Epoisonous copper, as
II they were so many missionary boxes. In
its African life, however. the chief danger
that besets it is not the recklessness Of it,
appetite. but the reckless disregard OF It's own
limbs Ii will take fright at shadow and
hurl itself blindly into the nearest fence,
from which II will be eXtricated with
broken leg: or fight savagely with brother
ostrich, and break its leg: or fall into
a hole or gully. and break its leg; or
dance, Waiting with most swift and graceful
precision. afOrding a most beautiful sight 10
the spectator and the greatest satisfaction to
itself. until glddiness comes upon It and
brings It 10 the ground-agqin with broken
leg II is true that It's dangerously powerful
legs are also very brittle. but 1t must be con-
fessed that they do not use them well.
OF the danger that the owner sometimes
runs from those powerful limbs. Mrs. Martin
tells some very amusing stories. A sturdy
newcomer, some six feet in height. laughed
at the warnings that were given HIM when he
set out for walk. and dlsdainfully re-
fused the protection of tackey-a
hror Of
which will keep the ostrich at bay
averring that he was not afraid Of dicky-
bird" He was missed, and discovered some
hours afterward by search party most I'M
comfortably perched on the top of an iron
stone bonlder and slowly griling under the
up and down, watching him with an evil
eve. Another gentleman had theory
that any creature, however savage.
could be subdued-'quelled.' as he
said, by the human eye. One day he tried to
quell one OF his own ostriches. with the result
that he was presently found in a very pitiable
predicament, lying fiat on the ground. while
the subject of his experiment jumped up and
down on him, occasionally varying the treat
ment by sitting upon him Doubtless il was
safer 10 lie down than 10 stand upto be kicked:
but 10 be sat upon as If one were an egg
must have been indeed humiliating. Curious.
too, IS the account that the author gives of
the camps OF lttle kingdoms that the ostrches
mark out for themselves with invisible, but
never TO be encroached upon boundaries In
side that camp il will bear no intrusion; but
outside it. in the domain Of its neighbor it
Is profoundly Indifferent 10 the strangers
wanderines Nor is it safe for the farmer to
presume upon his former acquaintance with
any bird for the ostrich has not wits enough
TO distinguish an old friend from a new in
truder. Dor sufficient respect for his owner 10
except him from his suspicious hostilities.
though it would appear that, as q rule. he will
manifest a stronger aversion 10 the Kaffir or
Hottentot than TO white man.-London
Spectator.