Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1891-04-24

huN. Ii iCCh lIOlI GuC llciu W CLlC NlSu-
bone is bare, and the flesh looks as much
read of as one can imagine. 1t is blue,
gathered in wrinkles, and covered with
pimples that threaten at every momen to
break out into pinfeathers.
After two months or so the feathers be-
gin to look more like those of a respectable
ostrich, and the chick begins to act as
though he had made up his mind that life
is worth living. His legs have heightened
out, as though all his vital energies had
been concentrated in that direction, his
wings have developed a heavier plumage,
and he can now start in pursuit Of the
swiftest moving insect or fly, with the odds
largely in favor of the young ostrich.
Up to this time the chicks from one
hatch have been kept in a yard by them
selves. They are now turned into Il yard
with those of the previous hatch. which
are, as a rule, about two months older. BY
this time they have learned better than to
try to pass through a hole smaller han
themselves, or to swallow q quart bottle
without first breaking it in several pieces.
An authority has said thai these birds
nave no brains to speak of, the proportion
being but l to 1900, as against l to Is in
Che parrot. One thing is certain, that in
chickenhood they act as senseless as any
living thing can, but their brainy matter
seems to develop in proportion to their
length of legs, and by the time they are
full grown they can perform some surpris-
ingly smart things for birds of small brain.
When from four to six months old the
young ostriches are supposed to have
passed all the dangers of youth, and are
then turned into the kraal with the old
birds. When a flock Of young ostriches
are turned into the kraal the oldest and
biggest male of the flock looks upon them
as his special charge. He shows them about
the kraal and points out every place of in
terest, such as the softest bed of sand, the
best roosting ground, where flies are the
most plentiful, teaches them to waltz. and
acquaints them with the keepers gate and
the hour of feeding. At meal time he
stands guard and sees that his proteges
have u%ndisputed possession of whatever
there may be-after he has had his fill.
The female natures in four years and
the male in five. They are then paired, and
each couple put in a kraal of about an acre
in extent. and expected to set up house
keeping on their own account. The breed
ing season lasts about three months, and
the keeper promptly takes charge of the
SSoo" AoA CiiN I'LL huhAbSl u llIuJ "LlCl
is usually from twelve to fifteen. After
the breeding season the birds are put back
into the large kraal and expected to raise
feathers. Each ostrich yields about thirty
six feathers, not counting some smaller
ones taken from the breast and tail. For
merly they were pulled out, the process be-
ing known as plucking; but as the feathers
were liable to be broken, recourse was had
to cutting. The quill is cut two or three
inches from the flesh, and after a few weeks
the stubs are pulled out.
The feathers are sorted into four parcels,
namely, white, black, gray and tail feath-
ers. A full grown ostrich will yield from
$50 to sl25 worth Of feathers in Il year. But
this depends very much upon the quality
and the market prices.
Their diet for the most part consists of
vegetable food and bones-the two ex-
tremes. They will eat anything green,
from alfalfa to the flowers on a lady's hat.
They are particularly fond of lettuce and
cabbage leaves, and large quantities of
these are used at the ostrich farms in San
Diego county. Considerable lime and
broken bones are given them.