The Saint Paul globe., 1904-03-27


meat for square meal, for it is less
delicious than the modest breakfast
that your own humble hen lays for
you Besides, it might spoil your APP
petite to think of how many potential
picture hats and feather boas you
were destroying by the eating, for
this IS an ostrich egg.
The eggs of the South Pasadena os-
trich farm, in California, are the larg-
est Easter eggs laid in America. Mr.
Cawston, the owner of the farm,
vouches for their average weight be-
ing three pounds; occasionally they
weigh more When you realize that
an average nest contains fifteen, you
can see that the nest must be pretty
large hole in the ground. If ostriches
had a habit of nesting in trees, there
is not a boy living who would not risk
breaking his neck in pursuit of such
prize.
The eggs are a matter of great in
terest to the father and mother birds.
They work steadily for forty days to
hatch them, she sitting by day and he
by night One pair at South Pasadena
hatched thirty-seven chicks in one
year by virtue of their diligence.
The BIG Birds
Are Famous
For Their Affection
These big Easter eggs have been
known to cause domestic unhapplness
on the farm, even in the midst of such
happily mated couples as live there.
In fact, the birds are famous for their
tender affection The proprietor of
the farm has often held them up as
models for brides and grooms to copy,
and as a living essay on how to be
happy though married.
Now and then the males have seen
fit to administer Slight discipline to
their wives, just to remind them of
the honor and obey" part of the
ceremony. For instance, Major Nc
Kinley kicked Mrs. Mckinley, with
the result that she is now stuffed
exhibit in the Smithsonian Institution.
But the wives have been in the habit
of taking reproofs in a spirit of hui
mility, and that has prevented quar-
rel An out-and-out fight, a vulgar
monkey -and-parrot time between os-
triches, with the wife giving as good
dS Sic got, WdS d nCW llllilS WllSiI llO
Roberts affair occurred.
Mrs. Roberts, long-necked, brown
feathered wife, probably says to this
day, "Who wouldn't?" When ones own
husband swallows ones own egg as
lightly as if it were cocktail, and
then looks around for more, there may
be something to be said on the wife's
side
General and Mrs Roberts were al
ways a favorite pair Of ostriches on
the farm They were supposed to be
well-bred and quite above the scandal
which the farm shares in common
with most small communities. But
when they fought, they made the tips
fly
General Roberts would say that she
struck the first blow; Mrs. Roberts
would add that he began it by eating
the eggs.
The Robertses had their abode in one
~of the pens for two, in which the
owner sets up his birds for house
keeping as soon as they mate. There,
where the ground was soft enough to
dig their nest, and the sunny slope
was warm enough to make them
dream of the South African home of
their ancestors, they settled down in
the sentimental way that ostriches
have. to enjoy long life of peace and
prosperity. Ostriches are the most
loyal of birds, clinging to mate until
death, and often mourning for it long
after The Robertses promised to be no
exception to the rule
They built nest. They took turns
at it, scratching and kicking the earth
in the chosen spot until they had a
hollow big enough to hold a dozen
eggs. Then the laying and the sitting
commenced
There's a
Division of Duties
at Sitting Time
The eggs were laid forty-eight hours
apart The process of sitting was di-
vided as usual. Late in the afternoon
the General would relinquish his post
to his wife.
For a while all went well, then she
noticed that something was wrong
with the count of the eggs. When
ever she came to her post of duty, she
found one or two of the treasures
missing. What passed then between
her and her husband cannot be known,
but it is probable that she inquired
whether he had left the eggs SO that a
man could get them. He probably
had a good excuse ready, and for a
time she was partly satisfied. But
as the trouble kept on, and as she
found that, no matter how many eggs
She laid, she could not get nest full
she decided to investigate the matter
on her own account.
She laid her egg as usual, and when
the time came for the Generals sit
ting she gave up her place to him
While he was settling comfortably
she strolled in a casual way over te
the other side of the pen, where the
trees grew in a thick clump. Station,
ing herself behind these trees she
watched.
General Roberts glanced around
cautiously and evidently was salts
fed. He did not see her bright eye:
fixed on him, and he took it for grant
ed that she was swallowing her sugar
beet breakfast with no thought O
him or her nest.
Her keen, black eyes peepinE