New-York tribune., 1902-09-07

and altogether affected. This of the afecta-
of the ostrich is increased when it draws itself
up to its full height and looks at person Then
only a camel look slier or more affected or
more contemptuous-
The ostrich Is OF inquirfng turn OF mind IL
seems to be one of its chief aims in life to survey
mankind. from China to Peru. and not only man
kind. but all phenomena, whether OF animate or
inanimate nature. To this end pecks at the bor-
der of a parasol; nibbles the brim of hat ex-
plores masculine pockets with buccaneering spirit
and sometimes pIucks at a random nose or ear
when the owner thereof is looking the other way
The fact IS it is dying Of curiosity IL wants 10
investigate things worse than special comnis-
stoner ever did and nothing will suffice but per-
sonaI examination
Besides being inquisitive the ostrich IS friendly
ir disposition. Where 1t is used TO being handled
and petted 1t Is pre-eminently social Nnen a Dig
bird confronts one stretching up its squtrn1ns
snakelike neck as high as 1t will 60 and liking ons
In its wide, unwinking. tmpassive stare IL IS al
most more than do to keep from Laughing
I'm its face. Not that the ostrich would mind that
at all II would continue stare for several min
utes more with its mild innocent gaze. Unth us
attention arrested. perhaps by particularly fnvit-
ing pebble scrap OF newspaper. II would sud-
denly drop all concern in one. Afterward one woud
recall that it's eyes were large and OF luminous
brown; that their expression tender and a
little wistful: that the lashes long and beaut-
full and that when it winked the lower lid met the
upper half way across the pupil The ostrlcns
head
Ostriches are plucked for their plumage every
nine months The birds are taken one at In9s Ne
and after being blindfolded are drlVsn W lneD
ostriches have labOred under the imprS ssIon In9e
necessary to bury their heads In the SAND, 90
to this M very TnGs gsy b Gng doe i The the pack
begins While man banks him up rom the
6e rear re 0 in n order 10 avoid KICKS swiftly goes
through the plumage picking out the the mature re
would destroy the blood vessels at the rO4t .,
the seaIs thes That are lust rP The
affirm positively that the pluck1ng does not huTt,
process and do not appear to enjoy 1t Inc PUCK
ing concludes with aa daIO o O. tbe bfpd. to stin-
guish it from its unplucked fellows IN, -
caught again and all the stumps Of his his feathers
pulled out Then the new @ teatnerS rs iitiafio1 Mr
| Ostriches are strictly homogeneous At the age
remain faithful to each other till death do them
| part. As their average span or NE is sevehS i
as a counsel perfection by some human oeings.
tWeve rRe Ieli to tesn eggs in each setting Each Of
the eggs measures from three 10 LocT 5STsnca "a
saTs5ST: ss 1SiTfv se6s. sna eeessiHS egse ABOUT
1t takes forty-tWo days ana nfS t5 Diebts and
| the mother through the days: When hatched the
barnyard fowl Ihey it, tSs az of nine or ten
! months when they are ready for their nrst pluck
!?The ostrich is an expensive creature to keep"
| saws Mr. Milien in captivity he thrives on any
seasonable dietary Of cereals vegeta 6les and Ir't
but ON his native veldtS. where he IS at liberty 70
| roam for miles and miles. he picks up his own
| living Like other birds. It is equipped with a
| cron which serves the mission of mans thirty
| nine pockets and wOman's shopping oaS- IN
| fat in some oStriches IL seems to be a regular
| fsisJstnne into which he pops. beside his daily
| rafions every extraneOus object that invites bis
aDnetfte or appeals to his curiosity provided ne
/ can get IL down his windpipe Small Succuient
| stones and gravel form the luggage IN the GlaI-
Stons as rule the internal economy OF the OsIrlcn
permitting IL harbor in its midst great variety
81 oTeer objects The digestion of the OStrlcn IS
| DroTerhiaI The Harlem goat and the ostrlen nave
| fhfs in common, that leather straps and tln cans
do not daunt them. / have seen an oStricn dlspose
| of iackknives. tomato cans and pieces OF sass.
and il never complained that the meal had Deei oo
! a crop OF feathers averages $40 IN vaiue. me
J MACK feathers and white feathers come from tne
1naIe Ais pIumage far excels that OF Ine 1eintie.
| whose pIurnage all has 70 be dyed oelns ~ oi ,; =
| 5,,n brovn The males best feathers grow on hiS
| Wines-on each of which there are tWshSy-Lo3ur
! beautiful white plumes-and on 'he Do"S UA