The Washington weekly post., 1900-04-03
SOUTH AMERICAN 0sTRIcHEs.
Huutiax Them I. a More Exciting sport
Than CHASING the Fox.

IL II not commonly hhvNh t'ASN -
are almost az many Ostriehes IN Sou1h
America a. in Africa, and yet the annual
/ export of feathers from the former coul-
/ try 20 the United States alone Is ID tne
ne,ght-orao.rt Of nineteen tons. represent
| ing in money tl-ei7-
The -rhea.'' or South American ostrich,
aieferu from the African bird. IN having st.
head and neck completely feathered, In
bllnc ,auless and having three toes in
stead 9f two Il may BE- found in large
runbers in the Argentine and Uruguay
republics and in the country extending
from Bolivia. Paraguay, and Brazil az
I far south a. the Straits OF Magellan It's
home is on the "pampas," or plains;
sometimes on open ground, and more
often near cover q grass and stunted IN
dergrowih. Since the birds are Wild ana
wary and their feathers are In demand,
methods have been adopted 10 catch them
and these methods are al the same time a
business and the most exciting sort OF
a powerful horse in condition to stand
hard riding and long abstinence tIoH Io
water IS The first consideration IN oSlFICIi
hunting The course IS both annoying and
dangerous. for. though the chase is on
level ground with no fences TO Tear, ths
rhea takes al once 10 the 'pdJas, or hlsh
grass This is not only hlndI aIce III y
self. but conceals innumerab bic holes, nlAdo
By ground hogs and moles mat are
constant menace 20 life ana limb YET, on
z clear day in the bracing South American
climate. with plenty OF game speeding b.
fore over a country with an u3dulauoh
Ike the ocean, no more exhilaratng sport
than the chase Of the South American os-
tTich could D. asked for. The most effec-
tive hunt is that followed by the Indians
or Gauchos, They use the 'bolas, or
balls, three pieces Of stone, lead or heaYF
hardwood, made round and covered with
rawhiie. These balls are attached 70
thongs OF the same material which are
joined together IN the center. When all IS
ready the Indians mount their horses ana
approach the game In a large Seml-circle.
riding against the wind. for the ostrich is
keen OF scent and once he suspects the
presence OF ? man is off like lightning.
When birds are sighted the riders swing
the bolas round their heads with great "a
pldity, their horses all the while going at
full gallCp. and when within range hurl
them at the game. entangling its legs,
wings or neck, and tripping II. or stunning
II II hit on the head or any sensitive spot.
IL Is wonderful 10 see the natives rise in
their saddles when II fun speed, swing the
balls and hit the mark. sometimes al a
distance OF eighty yards If one bird il
brought down the rest seem TO become
panic stricken, and instead Of escaping
remain near their fallen companion. In
thiS Way a score OF tHSfn may De Killed IN
one spot
To the man who loves hunting for sake
OF the chase alone horses and greyhOunl Is
appeal more. II Is a spOrtsmanlike race
where the game has chance for its life
1t is veIy like fox hunting, except that the
ostrich is swifteT, If anything, and en-
ploys even more lodges than the fox
For instance, when the hunters are press
ing close on the game and IL would seem
that the dogs were about to capture il,
the bird takes advantage Of the least
breath OF air. raises one wing slightly,
using II as sail, and running slantWise
against the breeze yanisheS from signt
like a leaf in a whirlwind II. by any
chance, the wind dies out and the hunters
again feel sure of their ostrich, the latter
doubles like a fox. and so quickly and
suddenly that the dogs pass beyond, max
ing the hunt long drawn out, difficult, and
exciting.
Though game laws have been passed
prohibiting the killing of ostriches during
the breeding season. little. if any, atten-
ton Is raid to them. Ii is estimated that
from 10000 to 100000 BIRDS are slaugh-
tered annually, a number which has not
only thinned out the species to a great eX-
tent. but promises in time to extinguish
II altogether. The only remedy for this in
country where law is ineffective would
be to establish ostrich farms similar to
those in Africa and California
Nor is the ostrich hunted for its feath-
ers alone; its flesh Is agreeable somewhat
resembling mutton, and an omelet made
OF one egg possesses a delicious flavor.
Consequently. egg hunting is almost as
much or sport as ostrich hunting Sew
eral hens lay in one nest, which some
times holds from twelve to twenty-five
eggs. The cock often matches the eggs. and
II disturbed during the operation becomes
very dangerous. not hesitating TO attack
with his legs man on horseback.