The Savannah morning news., 1901-07-07
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QUEER WAYS OF OsTRICHES.
birds That Are Widowers Dfstin-
suished for Lifelong Consistency.

birds That Are Widowers Dfstin-
suished for Lifelong Consistency.
From the Milwaukee Sentinel.
One Of the largest ostrich farms in
America is at Hot Springs. Ark. The
owner, Thomas A. Cockburn, has a tract
of land-about ten acres-in the heart
of the town, where he has his colony of
seventy-1ve African birds cared for by
trained men.
The farm is built in a wandering sort
of oblong, because the birds want more
length than breadth to strut about and
make 1o0-yard sprints, says a correspond
ent of the St. Louis Republic. The ground
is carefully strewn with sand and gravel
In the center there is the parade ground
or Hyde Park of the ostrich colony. while
around the oblong each family has it's
corral. To the ostrich who is an Ameri-
can, his home is a sacred thing. AS he
seems to have imbibed the atmosphere of
freedom and justice, the male bird toll
crates no intrusion whatsoever in his
corral. Gen. Funston and all the other
ostriches have a neat. swift kick for
offense and defense that will kill man
at one blow. Their fights are Titanic
It's rather curious that the big bird is
constitutionally very delicate. 1t must
be constantly nurtured and watched I'M
til 1t reaches the age Of 4 years, when 1t
wants to mate. A bird of certain pro-
clivities is paired off with it's like, and
does not part with its mate until death
intervenes. 1t will never take a second
mate, no matter If it lives to the age of
$50 years. Take John L., for instance.
He is widower, but nothing on earth,
according to Mr.. Cockburn, will induce the
bird to select another wife. Whether
this Is due to excessive faithfulness or
whether the ostrich Is wiser than an
other biDed called man has not been
established by those versed in ostrich
lore
There is another widower on the farm.
He is a very sensible chap in all mat
tiers except matrimony. Once the vice of ,
Jealousy possessed him, and in the fury
of it he inflicted such punishment on his
helpmeet with his awful kick that she
succumbed to her injuries five days later
The tragedy was due to a very unhappy
conjunction of circums tances. The body
of the household had been making goo
goo" eyes at the conquering and rresisti-
BILE Corbett, and failed to do her duty in
Matching the eggs After ostrich fashion,
her husband kept the eggs warm at night.
This is a recognized rule in ostrich house
of the work in the day time. the wife gall
WANTED around the farm and told her
husband she was shopping. 1t came to
his ears that she was receiving atten-
lions from the great Corbett, and then
she even f1irted with that creature before
her husband.
Then it happened that a large healthy
family was Matched in the adjoining
Cleveland household, and the husband was
mr. IIa Iri uyifo rnft ha
kick no more.
About the only pretty ostrich is baby
ostrich. Then they are as cute as a
chick. When the ostrich begins to get
its growth it becomes ugly, ungainly. It's
body stands 8 feet high. The long, snake
like neck and the fiat head, with the long,
snaky tongue that constantly protrudes
from its beak and the oblique eyes, give
it cunning. malignant look. Its person.
al characteristics, as must be apparent,
are vicious. 1t delights in waltzing. A
number of birds will gather in circle
and dance a regular waltz, with polite
bows to their partners, much after the
manner OF humans. AS high kicker It
can teach things to any danseuse.
And ostriches never bury their heads
in the sand and foolishly expect to es-
cape capture. Whenever the young are
pursued they squat down in the descent
anu Idy litelE iOuS uSShS Oh tue EAOuhus
as their color is similar to that of the
sand and they are often thus missed in
the chase. Ostrich eggs are never hatch
ed By the sun.
In passing, it should be remarked that
there is quite an industry in the sale of
the eggshells from which the birds have
been Matched. They are mounted on
orange wood, painted with pretty scene
and sold as valuable souvenirs. Normally
49, s-A 49, ,He
taste very well when boiled. They are
Matched usually in forty+five days.
The plumes from which boas are made
are cut Off every eight months, with a
very exciting process that is dangerous
for the FUCKERS. A certain variety of
feathers are shed from the birds body.
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