Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-10-31
VALUABLE FEATHERS FLEW.
Fight Between Birds That Can kicIp
Hole Through an Inch Plank.

A Fight Between Birds That Can kicIe
Hole Through an Inch Plank.
A dispatch from San Diego, Cal, to the
Chicago Tribune, says: There was a ter
ribly earnest fight at the Coronado ostrich
farm across the bay from this city recently
between two of the largest and ugliest cock
ostriches in the flock of thirty or forty
birds. The fighters weighed about 300
pounds each. They were evenly matched
and very plucky and did their best to kill
each other.
There Is novelty about an ostrich fight.
The polderous birds are quick as cats
They use their feet more dexterously than
a pugilist uses his fists, and with far more
erect. One of these birds can thrust his
oony pointed toe through an inch board
with very slight effort. Such a blow is
enough to kill an OK. With u single kick
one OF these cstriches would disembowel a
man instantly.
Inc fsht started over the division of cab
page leaves which Keeper Campbell had
throWn TO the hungry birds Seldom have
Two bipeds fought with more desire to kill
IMAM 'oiu tnese ostriches. And a royal fight
~ was IN the eyes of the keeper. as he saw
plumes worth $40 each soar from the body
or a bird in response to the kick of the
the dust. 40
uiui count Tor much in the
nashing eyes of the ostriches
They wanted blood.
Nothing but pure gore would satisfy their
sense of honor e-
Blood they did get. and enough to satisfy
GOV Waite ere the battle ceased With a
deep hiss and outstretohed wings ostrich
Jim bore down on Colonel like a forty-footer
In a gale sheered to the right, and caught
Soionel on the left thigh, ripping the thick
hide OFF the bare leg and causing it to bleed
freely. Colonel retaliated, and almost Grip
pied Jim's wing with a kick that nearly
capsized him. They then spared with feet
ana beaks, picking and kicking feathers
from one another, until Colonel dealt a ter
rifle blow on Jims stomach which seemed
to literally lift him from the ground. Only
the thick mass of feathers prevented the
awful toe from penetrating Jim's abdomen.
jim was game. Regaining his breath he
knocked Colonel over with side kick
breaking his wing. Colonel recovered his
feet before the attack was renewed Both
BIRDS had by this time lost their plumes.
and looked as II they had been plucked
Both were tired and weak from loss of
blood. Their attacks grew feebler and final
ly, as IL by common consent, they ceased
lighting and walked off among the bushes to
recuperate.
The fight was a draw and the anxious
keeper felt relieved that the birds lived.
During the fight no man dared trust his
HE near the fighters. Experienced keepers
seldom try to interfere. If they do the con-
centrated anger of both birds is likely TO
fall upon the luckless meddler and end in
his death. An interfering keeper once had
his spine shattered by a single kick from
an ostrich.
Ostrich farming is one of the growing
Industries of southern California Ten or
twelve years ago several farms were start
ed with total Of seventy birds imported
from South Africa. There are now OuO to
200 birds in this state, each yielding about
800 worth of undressed feathers annually.
1t costs three cents day to feed each bird
All eggs are Matched III incubators, about
80 per cent Matching successfully. The
chicks are allowed to run about in the sun
shine few hours after Matching Several
days after birth they begin eating tender
vegetable sprouts. For nine months or SO
they are kept away from adult birds lest
their elders should kill them. Until three
months old chick can be bought for So
In several years they attain maturity and
sell for $500 10 500 each
Selected feathers, especially the long white
plumes, sell for 500 pound. The birds are
vegetarians, with a preference for alfalfa
but If allowed to get very hungry they
would eat an old hat. Their legs and bodies
have the appearance Of a rheumatic ballet
dancer; their walk resembles the combina-
ton of the walk of dude and girl whose
shoes are too tight. Thirty years is thsl
average lifetime of an ostrich