The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1911-04-28
SOMETHING OF THE OSTRICH.
(By D.. J. W. Wolling).

In Africa and South America the
ostrich IS found in small dTOves Of
from eight to twenty. as I have often
seen, and is the largest Of the bird
family, attaining a height of feet
and a weight of 800 pounds. In our
country the largest ostrich farm is in
alifornia but a very creditable group
Of these birds is to be found in Jack
sonv;lle, Fla, and to see them is well
worth 2 visit when in that city.
About Hating.
There is a notion that the males are
-2cH devoted to one mate and that if
she should die he forms no other at
tachment. Natural history and c.ose
observation, however, do noJ ccnfrm
this idea. Indeed, in the case Of most
members Of the ostrich family it is
found that four or five hens deposit
their egs in a common nest, which is
only a depression in the ground, and
to the male it falls to cover the eggs
if not exclusively, certainly most OF
the time, and also to protect and care
for the young until they beome right
we'll developed. It is q fact, how
ever, that the largest species of the
ostrich seems to be an exception to
this rule as both birds hover the eggs
and care for the young.
Professor Darwin, speaking of his
travels in South Ameria, says: "Out
of the four nest which I saw. three
contained % eggs <each and one had
27." He also states that in a morn
:ing's ride he found some so eggs scat
tered about at considerable distance
without any order or protection. This
showing that these birds are not so
carefully mated as some think. While
brooding the male is very fierce at
tacking boldly the wild horses and
herds Of cattle which approach the
nest and is even dangerous to man
attacking him without fear.
Ostrich Eggs.
The eggs of an ostrih weigh each
about three pounds and are of a de-
licious favor. In the regions where
they can be had they are freely eaten
by the natives. The color of the eggs
OF the real ostrich is a light yellow or
dusky white. There are, however,
others of the family whose eggs are
very brilliant, as beautiful and bright
as glazed porcelain and with a color
varying from a Wine-red, blue-green
and brown to shiny black. The shells
are very thick in all the varieties and
because of their size and beauty are
much sought after as specimens in
museums. The empty shell Of the egg,
it is found by actual experiment, is
large enough to hold the contents of
eighteen of the common hen-eggs.
It takes forty minutes Of steady
cooking to boil an ostrich egg aard,
and then a considerable stroke to
break the shell. When being brood
ed the eggs are covered by the female
in the day and by the male during the
night. They are never left, as some
suppose, to be Matched by the sun
which would certainly spoil them,
more especially if left to the chill Of
the night.
Use Of the Wings.
In all the species Of the ostrich the
wings are very imperfectly developed,
and there is not a variety that can
actually fly. However, with favor
able breeze they lift their wings as a
kind of sail and thus impelled such
is their speed that neither horse nor
dog can overtake them in a chase.
It is in the wings of the ostrich some
of the most beautiful plumes are
found. In the tips Of the wing of the
male are found the pure white plumes
while IN the heavier part Of the wing
Of the same bird are found the jet
black plumes so highly priced. The
female has a great number Of beau
tisul feathers, but they are always
gray or ash-color.
0striches Waltzirg.
On visiting the ostrich farm in
Jacksonville, Fla, I was very much
diverted to see the ostriches, gr:at
clumsy things as they are, all at once
lit the wings and being to dance
around and touch "the light fantastic
toe" like other birds" I have s3en.
I supposed at the time that they were
excited by the lively music CT a band
which was playing not far away, or
then that they had actually ben
-~o;,aS IN norfo,-o, Pl;+ Ihic i cap,Os