The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-11
Ostrich IS A fast BIRD
He Easily Beat Out Nheclman ia
South Africa.
DEAD HEAT FOR HALf.MILE
But 1t Ended In u Procession and the
Whecimun Was Last t-Bird Used
Its Wings Us Sails.
ostrich Hunting.

The ostrich of South Africa, which
naturalists have long written of as the
swiftest runner of all living creatures.
has just given additional proof of it's
right to the distinction by defeating an
expert bicyclist in u race that after the
first half mile became procession.
says the World.
Donald Menzier of Cape Colony was
the wheelman who enjoyed the novel
contest He was wheeling along the
main road from Cape Town 10 Somerset
West Strand. when a giant ostrich's
curiosity was aroused by the novel ma =
chine and he commenced to waltz
around it in his stupid way, but at a
safe distance.
BIRD BUMPED ITSELF
Finally the ostrich concluded to pass
the wheelman. Mr. Menzier waited un-
til the big bird was at his sa le. when
he bumped" himself put all the power
he was capable of into the PEDALS, and
dashed away at u record breaking pace.
For half mile bird and man ran a
dead heat. but at this point the long
legged fowl, with its sporting blood
fully aroused, concluded to show the cy-
clist what an ostrich could have up its
sleeve. 1t at once brought into play the
rudimentary wings. with which 1t cam
not NY. but which enable II to double its
speed The stumpy wings revolved like
the propeller of u twln-Screw steamer.
and the giant biped seemed to fairly
skim over the surface of the plain.
The result was that when the ostrich
applied its reserve force it spurted rap
idly away from the chagrined cyclist.
who at the end of u mile gave up the
race. and slowly pedalled into Somerset
to relate his experience.
HORSE NOT IN IT.
The old ostrich hunters who heard his
story expressed no surprise whatever.
Any hunter could have told the cyClist
that an ostrich can outstrip the fieetest
horse that ever ran under Il saddle In u
atraightaway race, and jackals hyenas
and other wild animals are readily dis
tanced.
Ostriches are caught by hunters on
horseback occasionally. but il IL not
because they lack the speed to scud
away to safety. The ostrich is Il very
stupid bird but he does not know It,.
When pursued by the horseman he be-
comes excited to that degree termed
'rattled." Having no idea of strategy,
he thinks that he has. and ne COM
menceS running over the velvet in a
zigzag course. deviating from the
straight course Il matter OF u half-mile
at each turn.
The experienced hunter. aware of
this pecuilarity. guides his horse in a
stranght line, thereby saving the ami
NAL and at the same time getting the
benefit of the deviation of the ostrich
Even then the chase Is a long one. last
ing for hours, and on some occasions
all day. If the ostrich ran in q
straight line the hOrseman would not
be in the chase for n minute. The bird
at last, however. alarmed at the per-
tinacity of the pursuer. loses heart. and
then does the most ridiculous thing
tnat any living creature is guilty of.
HEAD IN THE SAND.
He burics his head in the sand. The
bushmen say that the bird does not
fear danger that it does not see.
Others thing that this act is Il simple
surrender to fate Men. stood up to
be shot by a file Of soldiers, close theil
eyes, or ask To be blindfolded. Hunt
Ing ostriches in this manner does not
pay, as such L chase frequently results
in the ruin of the horse. The favorite
method of the bushmen is to stalk the
game. the hunter, concealed in the skin
and feathers of one of the feathery
giants. being able to get within bow
shot of the destined victims. They
generally travel in groups of from three
tn six.
No means exist to ascertain exactly
what speed the ostrich can attain. but
speaking comparatively. u full sized
and matured bird can. by the aid of
his powerful legs-legs that can give a
most vicious and deadly kick. compared
TO which that of the American mule is
II love tao-and with his wings rotat
ing. get over the ground at the rate OF
II mile a minute. a bicycle. to stand
any show in an ostrich race. would
need wings as supplementary to its
regular motive power.