The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-07-06
QUEER BTRD, THIS.
Its Song Is Like the Lions Roar-It Is Om-
nIvorous, With the Accent on the ON.

nlvorous, With the Accent on the ON.
The dance OF the ostrich is one OF those
peculiar native customs which certain
fowls develop, without any apparent In
centive except It may be the law Of he
redity. II usually occurs at early morn
ing, when the young. strong birds are
let out Of their enclosure and is said
TO be entirely due TO awkwardness and
uncertainty. This leads them to advance
and turn In n deryish-like whirl which
IS very quaint and fantastic as they float
about assisting their motions by their
outspread wings. They circle and reverse
almost as a Walter would, and when a
large aumbe- OF these strange birds go
through their dancing antics 1t is almost
impossible to believe that they have not
been taught the accomplishment by a
dancing master. Their waltz often ends
in disaster. as they break each others
legs, which IS certain death, or become
dizzy and fall down I'm n demoralized
heap. The kick OF an ostrich has been
known 10 destroy life.
In the opening chapter Of Rider Hag
CARDS Jess" there is a highly dramatic
account OF a fight for life with an ostrich,
and IL IS historically correct. In fighting
they art apt to break their own legs,
they give such desperate blows. Indeed,
Il would seem as IL all the vital energies
OF the great bird were centred In its
long. ungainly legs, which are graceful
only when going across their native grass
covered plains with a rapidity Of motion
that must be seen TO be appreciated.
/ am only rehearsing a few OF the Pc
culiarities Of the creature which have
made II Of interest ever since the days
Of Job. which leaveth her eggs I'm the
earth and warmeth them in the dust"
II would appear 10 be an evidence OF
cunning rather than stupidity for Mrs
Ostrich TO adopt this very simple method
OF incubation. However. It has its dis
for while she is away get
ting n good dinner. her enemy, the white
necked crow, spies the unguarded nest.
He knows he cannot break one of those
mammoth eggs and deWses a shrewd
plan TO help him. Taking a stone In his
beak he flies over the spot, calculates
with bird sagacity the necessary distance.
and drops the stone. PUNK. An egg is
broken. and ne descends 10 his feast.
This is said TO be the same kind Of a
raven that fed the prophet Elijah. His
wisdom seems almost of a supernatural
order.
II is said that the cry Of an ostrich IS
like the roar Of lion and the HottentOts
often run from it in fright until they see
the bird
The ostrich IS a generous layer. Sixty
eggs will be found in and around a single
nest one Of these eggs is equal 20 TWEEN
.y-four hens eggs The Hottentots and
Bushmen cook an ostrich egg by putting
)ne end I'm hot fire. Through an open |
ng I'm tho other they stir the contents, |
putting In salt and pepper. making very |
)alatable omelet.
II is never safe 20 drop an article when
walking near cOvey Of Ostriches.
The ostrich VIII eat anything. SEEM
ne apparently TO have no sense Of taste.
4 story IS told Of a young girl who was
listing n zoo where n large ostrich
matched her kid gloves, which were
oiled into a ball. and ate them. The next
lay the girl returned with the family
Of a half dozen pairs OF
loves, all Of which were as readily swal-
owed.
While the ostrich has absolutely no
rain-see Job for authOrity-it has vicious
r0pensities that show some sort OF
Wicked intelligence. Some Cape Town
eOple had a fowl fattenlng IN n special
oop near an ostrich Kraal The bird
rooped and grew thin. II was watched
nd seen 20 peer through the Stats Of it's
oop. curious 10 watch its nelghbors. the
STITCHES. Every time It put its head /
ut II received a kick from its neighbor.
nd would soon have died had It not been
amoved.
A meek-looking male ostrich stood
bout with its consort looking so detected
nat some visitors remarked II must be
enoecked.
"Oh." laughed their host. "he IS hem
licked" and they soon saw him receive
staggering blow from his gentle spouse
hlch sent him with dropping feathers
TO corner.
Old Lightning belonged TO an ostrich
.rm AT San Diego. and was a magnificent
I'd. He acquired his name from the
.pidty with which he could pluck a
GIFTED cigar or pipe from a visitors
outh or remove his watch and chain
any ornament he could discover The
Useless manner I'm which he could steal ,
, behind one and then nip some personal /
'operty was remarkable. He was n .
.tural-born thief. once he snatched all /
g flowers off n young lady's hat. At
lother time he attempted to swallow
amond earring, but as II was fast in its =.
gner's ear he could not manage II.
Old Lightning's greatest feat was swal-
wing a lighted meerschaum pipe which
snatched from visitors mouth. The n
eper had seen him and caught him
ound the neck, and the pipe was ex-
mod the tobacco still burning.-DetrOit |