The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-11-05

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feathers, but the eggs also bring fair
price as curiosities when they are
blown. Each egg, as has been said,
weighs about three pounds and con-
tains as much as 80 hens eggs, and an
omelet of one ostrich egg would furnish
sufficient for big boarding house break
fast Omelets have been made from
them. and it is said they tasted about
the same as though made from the eggs
of ordinary fowls.
The most valued feathers come from
the adult liales, those which are white
being most priced and the wing feathers
the largest and finest. The females and
the young birds yield feathers of an in
ferior quality. those of living birds sur
pass those from dead ones, and the wild
ostriches of Syria and Africa are more
sought for their plumage than the do
mesticated birds. A full grown ostrich
Will yield to his owner at least $50
worth of feathers every year, and he is
plucked OF his richest plumage every
eight months.
The feathers "ripen" every few
months and are plucked by experienced
operators just before they are ready to
be shed. This operation is most interest
ing and is not devoid of some danger to
the men engaged. A few of the birds
are separated from the band and driven
into a narrow corral, from which, one
by one, they are taken into a still smaller
Enclosure formed by the angle of two
fences coming together Here two men
await the victim. One seizes the bird
and dexterously slips over it's head a
long, narrow bag shaped like the leg of
little boys trousers and made of den
im, This is to prevent the ostrich from
seeing what is going on and keeps it
quiet Then very swiftly man plucks
out the ripe" feathers and with pair
of shears clips off the wing plumes
A little gate is then opened in front
of the ostrich. and it is showed forward
into the large corral and let loose again.
Although the head bag has kept it
quiet, yet it is very indignant at the
treatment it has received and scurries
off. kissing loudly, with wings half
spread, to join its mates Sometimes
still further indignities are heaped up
on it, for in order to entertain the Wis
itors the proprietor will mount boy
upon its back and send it "scooting"
over the corral
AS full grown ostrich weighs about
$50 pounds and is strong in proportion
it can carry boy with ease The bird
is backed up against the fence, still
with its head in the bag, and the boy
gets up on the top rail and at the word
leaps upon the back of his feathered
steed. He seizes hold of wing with
each hand, and then the attendant re-
moves the bag. and the astonished os-
trich is off like an arrow from a bow
1t runs with long strides, swaying this
way and that, kissing and shaking it's
wings, and it is only with great effort
that the boy keeps his precarious seat
At last, indeed, he lets go and falls off
behind, while the released ostrich speeds
away like IA race horse.
The boy says that riding is great fun,
but he is always apprehensive about
alighting. If he should fall in front of
the ostrich or if another should pursue
him, he would be in danger of getting
severely hurt, for the ostrich has very
strong and sinewy legs, and his toes are
armed with sharp nails, so that he can
deliver kick that will infiict terri
BILE wound. Once, i'll fact, an ostrich
fell down with the boy on his back, and
another bird came up and kicked him
in the leg so hard that he was lame for
q week.
Strange to say, while the ostrich will
attack man or even horse it will
run from dog. This is because it can
not kick with full force any small OBJ
ject, such as a dog and it is well aware
of the fact
The best way to escape the attack OF
an Infatuated ostrich, those employed
OH the farm say. is to lie down on the
ground, when the force of its kicks will
be spent i'll the air, as it is only effect
i've as high kicker. " L. A. o.