The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1892-08-27

is practically impossible to obtain
good results-that is, satisfactory
Matching, unless the temperature is
changed at the exact times during
incubation, viz: for the first two
weeks, 1912 degrees; second two
weeks, 100 degrees; last two weeks
Cup to the time on which the shell
is perforated) SO degrees. AS re-
CARDS the growth of the bird arti-
ficially INUNDATED and those brought
or incubated by the parent bird,
there is just as much difference be-
tween them as would result from
the transplanting of plant raised
in hot house to the open ground
and subjecting of it to the in
clemencies of the weather. Facts
are stubborn things, but such they
are.
AS to the expense of feeding os-
triches, it does not amount to more
than it would to properly feed
chickens or turkeys, as there is
abundance of food here through the
islands, as nearly allied to their nat
ural food at Cape Colony that they
do not need feeding with corn,
mealies, etc., although it is claimed
that little corn keeps them tame
and tractable. So far SO good; but
regularity of feeding, with occa-
sional changes of food, will do more
for them than all the corn that was
ever raised.
AS regards their spitefulness and
frolicsome disposition with their
feet, it is best for the majority of
people not to be able to speak from
experience. Ostrlches are singu-
larly blessed with q more than ordi-
nary share of natural born cussed-
ness, and there are times during
which they could do good work if
they were placed in the immediate
vicinity of wood pile.
The digestive power of the Os-
trich is great. Visitors at one of
the farms at Cape Colony once
asked an attendant what the os-
triches ate. "Most anything"
said he, Gin fact, anything from a
penknife to an anchor" This may
be looked on as an old chestnut, but
readers are begged to overlook it.
A gentleman at the Cape of Good
Hope had read much concerning
the mesmerizing power of mans
steady gaze and thought he would
/ try his eye on an ostrich. At first
the experiment seemed likely to
prove successful. The bird sal
down, tapped his wings, inflated
his neck and struck its head against
its body. But this effect was only
temporary; several hours afterward
the gentleman was found lying fla
on his stomach in such q position
that his eye had no quelling power
over the bird, which was alternately
jumping and sitting upon the pros
trate body.
AS to the time it takes for incu.
baton, it is usually from SO to 4
days. There are times in which
out of laying of say from II to l
. / eggs the young hen chicks will
come out on the 37th day, and tn
remainder of the eggs, containing
: males, will go till the 4Oth or Ais
, day.
The birds are plucked ever
eight months, and unless they ar
! plucked just so, and great care
!, taken to cut some feathers and pu'
out others, the birds are soone
! ruined that way than any othel
: Instances are well known in While
adult birds have been killed by to
j., hurried or unskillful plucking.
is comparatively easy to pluck :
or % birds in one hour and hal
(. The sex of the bird can be detel
}, mined positively when three week
= or a month old.
= HERBERT ADAMS,
r Honolulu, II. /.