New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-02

ABOUT THIS STRANGE BIRD.
| 8. c. Cronwright Schreiner In The Zoologist
The ostrich (struthio camelus) has been observed
with interest from very early times; 1t has fire.
travellers and it has been domestiSated and
farmed in the Cape Colony for some thirty years.
in scientific circles, and how many misconceptions
still prevail as to It's nature and habits:
aa' dans s ysas or OF
farming in the Karroo of the Cape Colony. and
large ostrich camps. some Of which are coupe
s mss n IN w Of 0S
dom nterfered with in any way; except when
G Ss qp o b s 25 no De S5
from those Of native wild birds. except perhaps
that monogamy is more difficult.
An the differences on which the arguments for
classifying the ostrich into three species are
tGches of the cape CoionyEtha is Of South Africa
raj for T , mby S the down. Sp rnm
lnterior'-the Kalahari Desert, Damaraland and
South African osriches are Of one species ind.
vdual variations. accentuated by local dinerences
the eyidence which have been able 70 gather.
there is any justification for maintaining that there
The Grs hen D1 syi Gher day. y and n I'll.
tritous food. however prepared. very rich and ex-
s y nor o pa equa 10 %o dozen
eggs but this must he on account OF It's superior
shell of fairly large one exactly held the con.
tents Of eighteen fowls eggs /, takes sesa aeSu,
period OF incubation is sbont six weeks. ABA.
very G' low fence or across but the narrowes,
SLUT gully is nHPrTsG me som 6tTf 90 over
a sx-strand wire fence nearly five feet hign PVT
ting foot one Of the middle wires ana s,rid.
wall in the same manner, If too hign for mem 10
upon and have seen cox tak Se b stahdbs
yyocinnd which were his chicks ,,., u..,
mf eye have as Known Several birds to swim dis
lance down the Great Fish River when ~ was ruh,
tr,isstwortRy evidence OF cock that was carried
long way down the same river wnen !, was IS rI IN:
nearly level with It's precptous PanKs IN ne
stormy season he was some hours IN ne water DE-
fore ne . s9nd set ont pT pecar
the food into sack in the upper part Of the neSk;
anu quart of meslies dndian into this sack be
fore swallowing and it is H. un G3a Gba nen
at the time with a ce2r interval Dst y
them or to see one Of them or OF are anf is
being swaoWed i The bird lovers It's head e
some considerable distance down the neck The
food travels slowly and reforms compete Str
bones greedily eateni II TOO large piece should
stick bG sh meek nee wound p S aeRn TRc wound as
rule. heals quickly and causes out LII 1fle IS lon
almost anything small enough to pass down . ,gs
neck An ostrchs crop always c9"t5a a brgb,9
"onsiderabe m,sconception prevails TO the
marner I'm which the ostrich runs. IL seems TO o.
still generally he'd TIA, when running it FRs U1,s
on It's wings and aided 1y mem, SMITHS 's""'
When bird really settles Itself 10 H,I run fNrR Ro,'
lis head lower than usual ana rhe nsck ybrass
snuously but the head remains steady. thus en-,
a wb n ,. glance in any direction The wings
lie along the sides about on level with or niue
nsn Sr pn ns 02fk Ts
hold them extended or to tod derive any assistance
When an ostrich. after a long run. is very tired.
its wings scmetim's droop; ms Is d;e TO exhaus,
its"If 10 The utmost. l. Id ont away from the sides
10 Lighter is T o b OF gr in arnns
enabling the bird to double abruptly even when
hen will pair and. having selected site congeniaI
h,iove that in ali cases in the first instance one
cock and hen, having paired. select the site and
The nest is simply a hollow depression. more or
less deep according to the nature OF the SOL. II 70
his breast. scrlpng or kicking the sand out back
ward with his feet cutting the earn VITA ,e s S n
tering and clicking her wings. and helps by picking
larlv near the edge CT the growing depros son.
When satisfied with their work tand they are
lay an egg In the nest every other day. During the
laying period the nest Is often unattended and IS
hen is laying contains on the average about fifteen
eggs but she often begins 10 sit before she has LAID
or i've after beginning to sit. though not often 80
many; sometimes only one or two; while sometimes
she will lay her full complement The hen genor-
ally begins the sitting; she will occasionally sit for
one days and nights before the cock taxes
his turn. When sitting assumes It's regular course.
the hen sits from a. 70 about y. m, ana
the cock from I y. m to about or a. m. Inc
bird whose turn II Is 10 be on the nest keeps us
until the other arrives 10 relieve IT, when they
AT once change places.
II is quite Incorrect to say that the cock alone
heat OF the The cock and hen sit alternately.
regularly and steadily, night and day, during the
whole period of incubation
The color of each is admirably adapted 20 tho
time spent the nest and furnishes interesting ex
ampes of PROTECTIVE. coloration. II Is scarcely pos
sibe to conceive a more effective disguise than the
sober brownish gray of the hen for day sitting. AMI
the black OF the cock for night. When the
nest the ostrich lays its head, neck and tail nat
along the ground its naked thighs are covered
by the wings the plumes lying close together on
the earth almost hidden against the BIRDS body
Thus only the low, long-curved body projects above
the surrounding level. The cock at night. is, x
course almost perfectly hidden. while the hen. at
daytime. closely resembles a stone. bush, antheap
or any little Inequality OF the weld surprised
10 see how close such large bird can lie 10 tho
| ground and how even ostrich farmer may AL
most walk a sitting hen in full daylight WIN
out seeing her The cock Is simply indistingusn-
able night. except to the practised eye and then
only few yards distance.
Every authority that have consulted holds that
the ostrich is poygamous but the evidence against
II be maintained that the monoeamy or tho
ostrich Is proved absolutely. but decidedly think
that the arguments in it's favor are much stronger
than those in support Of poygarny.
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