The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1905-04-28
THE oALIFoRIA oRsTRICH,
(From the Pacific Monthly. }


A trolley ride Of twenty minutes or
more from Pasadena, with the finest of
panoramic views on the way, takes us
to the farm. Green valleys, sleepy
foothills, quaint Moorish houses,
strangely constructed bungalows and
rose-entwined cottages pass in quick
review. All of these so charm us that
for the time we forget the object of
our quest. But the loud call of the
conductor "All off for Cawston ostrich
farm" reminds us of our original in
tention, and we alight.
Here we look upon more lovely seem
cry, for the ground all about the farm
is most artistically ornamented. Trel-
lises are covered with beautiful roses.
Palm trees reach up and send their
fan-like branches far out, making
pleasant shade for warm days. Here
are flowers of every hue, rich and
beautiful under high state of cultiva-
tion. A bed Of scarlet popies is blaz-
ing in the golden sunlight Fountains
send up and scatter cooling sprays,
while goldfish dart here and there in
their cool depths. Rustic seats under
the hveoak, eucalyptus and pepper
trees invite one to rest, while enticing
paths lead to various parts of the
grounds. Altogether we behold scene
of enhancing beauty.
We are here to see the ostriches,
however, and here they come rushing
towards us pell NELL. Their wings are
extended and their great toes scarcely
touch the ground, SO eager are they for
the oranges. They pick the yellow
globules from the ground, or take them
from his hand, and swallow them
with one gulp, not crushing them in
| the least.
/ have seen an ostrich take a dozen
oranges and swallow them one after
another in rapid succession, giving its
neck the appearance of string of great
beads
The ages of the members of this
flock range from eight to nine months.
How curious and greedy they are
We are made to retreat in double
quick time as they poke their big fiat
head with bulging eyes at us over the
high board fence and snap their beaks
close to our hat pins, watches and
kodaks.
After forty days they are Matched,
and in four or five months after
Matching the hen lays again, and
another brood is brought forth. 1t is
at times necessary to take feeble
young bird from its parents and raise
it by hand. A baby ostrich four days
old was being fed alfalfa from the
hand of its keeper.
The birds are all of one color-a
dingy speckled gray until they are
eighteen months old. Then the male
changes to glossy black, with the
exception of white feathers under his
tail and wings. The females always
remain gray. The body of full
grown ostrich is more than two feet
across, and as it stretches up its long
neck it will measure, from bill to toe,
seven or eight feet. The weight of an
adult bird is from 800 to 400 pounds.
The price of a full grown bird varies
from 5000 to $500 and the price of a
baby ostrich is $500 while eggs are
valued at from So. 90 to $25. 90 each.
Ostriches live to be from so to 20
years of age. When one first looks at
a flock Of these gigantic birds one ex-
claims: stOh, what awkward, clumsy
.things" But look againl A great
bunch of them comes sweeping to-
wards us. Their toes are daintily
touching the ground, their wings are
raised OF lowered, their necks are
craned this way or that, all with the
finest grace and beauty of movement
Here is Major Roberts coming for an
orange. His air is as fine, his gait as
mincing and graceful as that of lady
in driving room.