The Washington times., 1907-06-02
OStricheS Dance
Graceful Minuet
With Rising Sun

There are three ostrich farms IN south
srn California, one IN Arizona, one n
Kansas. and one IN Florida: and there
are not less than 5000 OF the gigantic
birds in this country. growing plumss
Tor my lady-s headgear.
The original ostrich farm. in South
Pasadena, is annually visited by thou
sands OF tourists. The big birds are
kept IN fields incl0sed with high fences.
They appear TO be as tame as domestic
fowls, but II Is not safe for strangers
10 take too much for granted. as the
male bird is often ul-tempered, and his
kick is worse than that OF a mule.
Early morning visitors witness the
most interesting performances OF the
b.rds-the 1natin waltz When the suns
first rays strike across the field. SAYS
The Rosary Magazine, the birds take
their morning exercise to stretch their
muscle and Danish the chill OF the night.
The larger ones begin the performances
with a slow. stately dance, something
like a minuet Presently the whole flock
joins In the measure. stepping high and
weaving IN and out n what seems to be
a set. though complicated. figure.
As the dance proceeds, the speed Of
the movement increases; then the birds
begin 10 whirl about. and presently the
quadrille merges into 4 waltz The
dancers. holding their heads high. raise
their wings ard spread their plumes IN
the sunshine. and in pairs waltz SOL
EMMY, strenucusly for q quarter OF an
hour
Viewed from a distance a band Of
Waiting ostriches-when the birds are
IN full feather-is a beautiful picture
At close range the preternatural Erav-
ity OF the bird engaged IN the seem
ingiy frivolous pastIme OF the waltz
makes him an irresistibly comic figure.
Ostrich farms are most attractive 20
visitors at plucking time. once In nfns
months. To one never having witnessed
the operation II seems quite 4 formid-
able task to capture and hold & $50
pound bird and relieve II OF its pIumage.
But the farmer has devised a way
that makes It very simple process.
Selecting a bird whose plumes are ready
TO pluck, he is entced with sugar beets
into a triangular Enclosure. thence 20
the narrow end. and there Imprisoned
with bars.
The ostrich IS enraged when he nnds
that ne IS Imprisoned. but IN a moment
his head is enveloped in a sack. and
being blinded he becomes quiet and sub
missive. The plucking Is painless
Only the smaller feathers are pulled
as the feathers are plucked from
geese. The large plumes are cut VITA
care to preserve the sockets Of the quiz
from injury.
Natural white or pure black plunes
require only washing and curling. but
most Of the plumes are gray and must
be dyed for the market The raw feath-
ers hre sold IN san Francisco and New
York. where they are prepared for the
trade by being washed. dyed, starchsd.
curled, and pieced. The ostrich plume
on a ladys hat is no more like the feath-
er rs worn by the bird than sealszin
jacket IS like the natural fur OF ita
original wearer.
When the ostrich is three or four years
old he chooses a mate for Hfe. Ths
usual span Of ostrich life Is about eighty
years. 1t viii be seen. therefore, that
this singularly bird IS a model Of monoR-
anous fidelity.
Also. he is a model husband, for ha
does more than half Of the family work
The male partner makes the nest by
kicking hole IN the ground 4 foot
deep and three feet across, and. whom
the twelve or fifteen eggs are laid he
takes his turn at Matching, dividing the
time with his partner in even watches.
Forty days are required to hatch the
eggs. which are IN proportion TO the
size Of the bird. When the chicks come
out the cock must be seouestered for
in capacity he develops q reprehensfbie
propensity 10 infanticide. forgetting al
the trouble he has taken TO hatch out
q family
OFTEN there IS g surplus OF eggs on the
ostrich farm, and hotels 81 the vicinity
are supplied with the material for
Omeiets at fancy prices Curiosity IN
duCes tourists TO pay those prices ana
they have been known TO affirm a llk-N
ing for ostrich egg Crneiets. The shell
of an ostrich egg is so thick that even
the hard-kicking cock bird could use
one as football without damaging IL
naSa EIo-