The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-11-21
QUEER WAY OF osTn1cHEs.

QUEER WAY OF osTn1CHEs.
Birds That Arc widewers Distinguished
for Lifelong Ccnstancy.
One of the largest ostrich farms In
America is at Hot Springs, Ark. The
owner, Thomas A. Cockhurn. has q
tact Of land-about ten acres-in the
heart Of the town, where he has hi,
colony Of seventy-lve African birds
cared for by trained men.
The farm is built in a wandering sor
o: oblong, because the birds want more
length than breadth to strut about and
make 1O0-yard spirits, says a cores
rondent Of the st. Louis Republic. The
ground is carefully strewn with send
end gravel. In the center there Is a
parade ground or Hyde Park of the os.
tr'ch colony, while around the oSions
zach family has its corral. 10 the
ostrich, who is an American, his horzs
Ia a sacred thing. AS he seems to haWs
lmbibed the atmosphere of freedom and
Justice, the male bird tolerates no in
husion whatsoever in his corral. Cen
el al Funston and all the other ostriche.
have a neat, swift kick for offense and
defense that will kill a man at one Flow
Their fights are Titanic.
It's rather curious that the big bird
Is constitutionally very delicate. 1t must
be constantly nutured and watched I'M
III it reaches the age of four years.
when it wants a mate. A bird of Ger.
tain proclivities is paired Off with its
like and does not part with it's mate
until death %intervenes. 1t will never
take a second mate, no matter if it live
to the age of $50 years. Take John L.
fol instance. He is a widower, but
nothing on earth, according to Mr.. Cock
burnt will induce the bird 40 select am
ether wife. Whether this is due to TX
cessive faithfulness or whether the
ostrich is wiser than another biped call,
@! man, has not been established i,
those versed in ostrich lore.
There is another widower on the
farm. He is a very sensible chap IN al
matters except matrimony. Once tn
vice Of jealousy possessed him add ii
the fury of it he inflicted such punish
Dent on his helpmeet with his awful
kick that she succumbed to her in1urie:
five days later.
The tragedy was due to a very un
Fappy conjunction of circumstance
The lady of the household had beef
making "goo-goo" eyes at the conquer
irg and irresistible Corbett and ,aile,
te do her duty in Matching the ggs
After ostrich fashion, her husband KEEP
the eggs warm at night. This is : rec
cgnized rule in ostrich households. Blu
Instead Of doing her share OF the wor]
i'll the daytime, the wife g%allivante'
around the farm and told her husban,
she was shopping. 1t came to his ear
:hat she was receiving attentions fror
the great Corbett, and then she eve
dirted with that creature before he
husband.
Then It happened that a large health.
family was Matched in the adjo,nin
Cleveland household, and the husoan
was wroth. He kicked his wife until h
could kick no more.
About the only pretty ostrich is
taby ostrich. Then they are as cute a
a chick. When the ostrich begins t
1sset ats growth It becomes ugly, uneain
y. Its body stands nve feet high. TIL
long, snakelike neck and the fiat hoac
with a long, snaky tongue that cor
stantly protrudes from Its beak ana tn
oblique eyes, give it a cunning, malie
nant look. It's personal characteristic.
: as must be apparent, are vicious. It de
lights in waltzing. A number Of bird
will gather In a circle ana dance
! regular waltz, with polite bows to thei
partners, much after the manner {
. humans. As a high kicker it can teac
things to any danseuse.
And ostriches never bury their head
IN the sand and foolishly expect 10 es
cape capture. Whenever the young Al
pursued they squat down in the desc,
and lay their long necks on the groun,
~ their color is similar to that of tn
J sand, and they are often thus missed /
the chase. Ostrich eggs are ueye
patched by the sun.
In passing it, it should be emarke
fhat there is quite an industry in th
sale OF the eggshells from which tn
birds have been Matched. They a,
nounted on orange wood, painted wit
a pretty scene and sold as valuaby
souvenirs. Normally the eggs weig
about five pounds and taste very we
when boiled. They are Matched usual
in forty-ive days.
The plumes from which boas al