The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-07-02
osrRICHEs In SEATTLE.
I've Fine Specimens Now 1t wood.
1AnA

I've 1Ao specimens NOW ae W00oe
land Park.
Two full grown ostriches, male and female,
arrived yesterday on the Pacific Coast steam
ship Company's steamer Puebla for Woodland
park. These fine specimens of the ostrich were
purchased by Guy c. Phinney while In South
ern California last winter, and 1t q very large
expense have been brought to the state of WASH
angton. These are the drst Of these
grand birds that have been intro
duced into the great Northwest. Al
though . number of birds called ostriches
really belonging to the order grallatares, have
been palmed off on the Northwest and the peo-
pie OF Seattle IS ost riches, the birds are only
the So called emus, and these ostriches import
ca by MI. Phinney are the only two species OF
ostriches ever imported into the city of Seattle.
description of tho magnificent birds may not
be out of place in this article.
The ostrich is the largest OF all birds now ex-
listing, being from six to eight feet In height to
the top of its head. and an adult male weighs
from 300 TO 800 pounds. The male il rather
larger than the female The head and
upper part OF the neck are scantily covered with
afhin down; the general plumage 10 glossy
black In the adult male. dark gray in the female
and young, with . slight sprinkling Of white
feathers
The long Dlumes Of the wings and tail are,
white. occasionally marked with black. On
each wing are two shafts not unlike porcupines'
quilts. The ostrich is capable of running with
6iSoS peeu ouu Vi otFlkluS 8uCQ q dow Win us
ioot a. to make it too formidable for the leopard
and other Large beasts of prey to assail it II has
been often known to rip open dog by single
stroke ana men are said to have suffered the
same fate.
Its sight is very keen, 30 that It describes OBJ
Jects at q great distance in the open desert.
The ostrich shuns the presence of man. It IL
Rregarious, 1t 10 also polygamous, one male us
ually appropriating to himself when he can,
from two to seven females, which seem to make
their nest in common. sc0oping q hole in the
sandfor this purpose. Each female is supposed
to lay about ten eggs upon which she sits dur.
: ing the cold nights and which she leaves to the
suns rays for incubation during the day. Its
food is principally vegetable substances, and it
swallows large stones, pieces of iron. glass,
Old shoes, copper coins, etc, to aid the
gizzard in the trtturition Of it, food. Its speed
il about mile minute; its strength IL such
that it can easily carry two men on its back:
Its voice il deep and hollow and resembles the
roar OF a lion. Its egg is much esteemed as an
article OF food by the rude African, and is even
acceptable by the European colonist. Each egg
weighs about three pounds and is equal to about
two dozen OF the ordinary hens eggs. Ostrich
feathers are occasionally borne a. an heraldic
charge and are always represented dropping.
Three white ostrich feathers is the well-knowu
badge OF the Prince of Wales. According to
common tradition they were assumed In conse-
Quence OF Edward, the Black Prince, having
plucked plume of ostrich feathers from the
cosque OF John of Luxemburg, king of Bohemia,
who fell by his hand at Crecy. There 10 no
doubt, however, that ostrich feathers were
previous to that time cognizance of the Plan
tagenets. Prince Henry, oldest son OF James
l., first established the present arrangement of
the three ostrich feathers within 9 princes
caronet
These fine specimens Of the ostrich at Wood
land park are really worth seeing and 1t is GER
tainly commendable of Mr. Phinney to have
brought them into the Northwest at great ex.
pense They will remain at Woodland park
during the warm weather, when they will be re-
shipped to Southern California to remain dur.
Ing the winter season. The weather here IL
too wet during the winter season for the sue
cessful rearing of the valuable birds.