THE BIRDS. 



215 



32,247 ostriches, either free or in parks where Lucerne 

 grass is cultivated as food for these useful birds. They 

 are also reared in California. The South American ostrich 

 is in Patagonia hunted for its feathers. Its food consists 

 of seeds, grass, insects, etc., and the herdsmen say that 



FIG. 222. South American Ostrich. 



they also eat snakes. The nest is a mere shallow hole 

 scratched in the ground ; twenty, thirty, or more eggs are 

 found together, but it appears that these are not all laid by 

 one bird : several females lay their eggs together, and take 



turns in sitting on them. 



