The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-09-30

30 run. road tho other day in an English
magazine u Briton's account OF his visit to
an African ostrich farm IN which he jaun-
ttly asserted that while some people might
be timid about entering an ostrich in
CLOSURE he himself could mover understand
1t. 1t was SO cnsy, he said, to grab
charging bird by the neck and hold his
head down until his anger cooled, and ms
for meeting an angry ostrich while on
horseback, why, TINT was mere play.
In contrast TO tho boasting Of this valiant
but inexperienced Briton is the statement
made by Mr.. II. G. Lawson of Pomona
Valley, one of tho pioneer ostrich farmers
of California.
81 had to quit ostrich farming myself"
said br. Lawson, because | was actually
afraid to be about the birds as much as the
work demanded. Tho crazicst, mcanest
mule that ever existed Is complacent
good natured beast when compared with a
mean ostrich. l have had my leg broken
once and have been black and blue and so
sore that could not get out of bed for
weeks ut n time as the result of tho work
of pltcking an ostrich hen. In one season
two OF my strongest, most agile men had
bones broken by unruly ostriches. Tho
birds can kick in every direction, and there
Is no lodging thoir blows.
=" As for tanning the birds or making pets
of them, 1t can't he done. l used to think
1t could be-, but gave it up after nearly
having my life kicked out. The hens
haven't brains enough to recognize man
from one day to the other Even those that
are brought up around the house rs chick
ems grow wild as they grow older When
tho hens are setting, the males are the
wickedcst, and they will kick ut ANYTHING
within reach | have seen them kick "A
thick board fence and leave dents that you
would swear must have been made by II
man with heavy hammer"
An ostrich fight is always II lively en-
counter. The birds fight as naturally as
they eat and Just about as often, for there
Is always row when they are fed They
rush at each other with blind fury. kick
ing straight out in front with their wicked
claws distended. Sometimes their legs are
broken and sometimes they come out of
the fray with no other damage than q hole
torn in their breasts.
The employees on an ostrich farm ven
ture in among the birds only when it Is
absolutely necessary, and then they go
armed With long poles, on tho ends of
which are crooks. When n bird charges.
they catch his neck in this crook and force
him 10 his knees Once does not nlwnvs
''''''H we iuoilsn Dlru, anu they Will some
Times charge half II dozen times before
they get It through their noodles that they
are getting the worst of it. When plucking
hne comes around-which is once in seven
months-the birds are run one MT n timo
INTO narrow inclosurc, where they hive
not room to kick. A bag il put over their
heads, and then they become as docile MS
lambs.
The most valuable feathers are those
taken from the undcrsidc OF the wings of
the male birds These are long plumcs o,
pure white, and are very valuable. selling
as high as $40 each sometimes. There are
few OF these, however, and each bird yields
mt n plucEing on an average of 800 worth
OF feathers pair of good ostrichcs is
worth about 81 900. So you SEQ it requires
considerable capital to stock an ostrich
farm. S. X. MACDONALD.