Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-11-18

the eggs and when be tried to put 1t
back the hen flew at him with head and
feet and gave him 3 good mauling.
Then she rolled the egg to the nest and
into it vita her head and sat down upon
the lot with an air which seemed to
say, Gust see IL you can monkey with
my business as you did with the old
man's."
In another part of the farm were a
number OF large glass sash frames, COW
ering shallow boxes on the ground.
They looked like the frames Of glass
used by green gardeners and truck
farmers, but instead OF onions and rad
ishes and lettuce, the frames sheltered
AID warmed q young brood OF young
ostriches, from one day TO three weeks
old. The superintendent picked one OF
them up for me TO photograph, and |
had an opportunity TO examine 1t. 1t
was but three days old, but 1t was twice
as large as the egg from which 1t came.
It's coat was softest down and was oily
and sleek to the touch. It's eyes were
round and brilliant and it possessed,
Young as it was, the fiery temper mani
tested in all the matured birds. The
little fellow Kissed and snapped at his
captor, and WAS better pleased by far to
be under his glass case than TO be
picked up aud exhibited TO curious visi-
tors.
1.-THE young are very tender" said
the keeper, "and We have to be very
careful in keeping them in place OF
even temperature. until their feathers
begin to grow. The percentage OF loss
during the chick periods of their ex-
istence is very high, and out OF humid
red young ones thirtY-fve adults Is
considered very good, indeed"
After the entire brood of little ones
had been photographed the cover was
replaced and they held an Indignation
meeting then and there to discuss the
rude interruption.
The ostrich has a stomash capable OF
digesting shoe buttons, If he cares to
swallow them. He will swallow any,
thing you give him, at any time, as is
we'll known, and from this fact it is
argued by many that he has an ever
lasting appetite. However, that is not
the fact. He eats frequently, but small
quantities of food at time, and never
gorges himself, as chickens, geese and
ducks do. At night they eat oats and
rolled barley, but throughout the day
they have finely chopped alfalfa grass
and can eat as much or as little OF it as
they like This alfalfa is the natural
food of the ostrich, and is raised In
abundance on the farm. It is cut fresh
from the fields, night and morning, and
the supply is never allowed 10 diminish,
The birds drink large quantities OF
water, and are extremely clean In their
habits.
81 cannot show you the operation OF
plucking the plumes," said my guide,
''because that work has all been finished
for this season. These triangular pens
are used for that purpose. The bird is
driven into the pen and bar is dropped
down behind him. A stocking made
for the purpose is pulled over his head,
and as long as his eyes are blinded he is
an easy victim. The men then reach 10
between the bars, lift up the wings OF
the bird, and, with pair OF keen
edged nippers, cut of from six to ten
plumes from each side OF tn bird. The
Quill is never pulled out, but is nipped
of Just outside the skin. The opera
tion is not painful and does not injure
the bird at all. Is ostrich farming pro-
fltable? Well, that is question YOU
will have 10 ask the company in the
city. They keep the farm up in its pres
emit condition all the time, and as there
is good demand for the plumes, l
imagine the business is one we'll worth
having" w. j. ROUSE