The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-12-22
A REMARkAslE BIRD.


nivoroas. with the Accent on the On
The dance of the ostrich IS one OF tnoss
peculiar native customs which certain
fowls develop. without any apparent
incentive except it may be the law of
heredity. 1t usually occurs in the early
morning. when the young. strong birds
are let out of the inclosure, and Is said
to be entirely due to awkwardness and
uncertainty. This leads them 20 ad-
vance aud turn in a dervish-likc whirl
which is very quaint and fantastic a.
| they hoat about assisting their mo-
tions BY their ou;spreai wings They
circle and reverse almost as a waltxer
would. and when larger number Of
these strange birds go through their
dancing antics il is almost impossial
to believe that they have net been
taught the accomplishment by =
dancing master. Their waltz often
ends in disaster. as they break each
others legs, which is certain death, or
become dizzy and fall down in de-
moralized heap The kick of the ostrich
has been known TO destroy life.
In the opening chapter of Rider Hag-
CARDS "Jess" there is highly dramatic
| account of q fight for life with an
ostrich. and it is historically correct
In fighting they are apt to break ti,sir
own legs they give sneh desperate
blows Indeed, ii would seem as IL all
the vital energies of the great bird were
centered in its long, ungainly legs,
which are graceful only when going
across their native grass-covered plains
with g rapidity of motion that must ee
seen 10 be appreciated.
/ am only rehearsing . few of the Pc
culiazities of the creatures wh.nh have
made it of interest ever since the days
of job (which leaveth her eggs in tho
earth and warmeth them in the dust
1t would appear TO be an evidence of
cunning rather than stupidity for Mrs
Ostrich 10 adopt this very simple meth
od of incubation However. IL has its
disadvantages. for while she is away
| getting good dinner her enemy. the
white-necked crow. spies the ungarCied
| nest He knows he can not break one
of those mammoth eggs and devises a
shrewd plan 10 help him. Taking
stone in his beak he fies over the spot.
calculates with bird ssgacity the neees-
sary distance and drops tho stone.
Punk, An egg is broken. and he de-
scends to his feast This is said 10 be
the same kind of raven that fed the
prophet Elijah. His wisdom seems az
most of supernatural order.
1t is said that the cry of an ostrich is
like the roar of lion. and the Hot,en-
tots often run from il in fright until
they see the bird.
The ostrich Is generous layer
Sixty eggs viii be found in and around
s.ngse nest One of these eggs IS
eeusi TO twenty hens eggs The
| Hottentots and Bushmen cook an os-
trich egg by putting one end in a not
fire. Through an opening in the other
they stir the contents, putting in salt AMI
pepper, making a very palatahie omeIet
II IS never safe to drop any article
| when walking near a covey of cstriehes
The ostrich win eat anything. seeming
apparently 70 have no sense Of taste.
A story is told OF Young girl who wa
| visiting ZOO where large ostrich
snatched her hid gloves. which were
| rolled into bail, and ate them. The
next day the girl returned with the
| family contribution OF a half.doxep
pairs of gloves. ali OF which were as
readily swallowed.
While the ostrich he's absolutely nc
brain-see job for suthority-it has
vicious propensities that show some
sort of wicked intelligence. some Cape
Town people had fowl fatting IN a
special coop near an ostrich krsaL The
bird drooped and grew thin IL was
watched and seen 30 peer through the
Stats Of It's coop. curious "a watch It's
neighbors. the ostrichcs Every time
il put its head out il received a kick
from its neigh Dor, and would soon have
died had il not been removed
A meek-looking male ostrich stood
about with his consoTt looking 80 de-
iected that some visitors remarked Il
must be hcnpecsed.
oh" laughed the host, 'he Ia hen
kicked" and they soon saw h.fE receive
a staggering blow from has genti.
spouse which sent him with dropping
feathers into corner.
Old Lightning belonged to s.n ostrich
farm az san Diego. and was a naguifi-
cent bird. lie acquired his name from
the rapidity with which he could pluck
| a lighted cigar or pipe from visltorf
mouth or remove hls watch and chain
or any, other ornament he could dis,
cover. The noisciess manner in which
ne could steal up behind ore and then
fnip some personal property was re-
! rna-kabie. lie was a natural poTf
thief Once be .natehed all TIE flow
ers oF young lady's hat A. anoths,
time he attempted to swallow dia-
mond earring. bat ~ il was fss, in i.-
owners ear ne could not manage j.
Old I6ghtning's greatest feat vas
swallowing lighted rneerschsufu p.pe.
wtrich he snatebsd from q visitors
mouth The keeper had seen him snf
caught him around The neck and the
riUe svas exhEulsd. The tobacco siiI
burning Detroit Free Presa
very Iass.
Jsck-Di5 10 ever strike you tha. .