782 



THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



stood gasping for breath, with pendent wings, open bills, and in- 

 flated throats, the pictures of imbecile dejection." For water-sup- 

 ply during these terrible seasons the farmers build dams where 

 the waters of the thunderstorms are collected and stored. But 

 even the most capacious lakes thus formed must dry up in a long 

 drought ; " and that land-owner is wise who does not depend solely 

 on this form of water-supply, but who takes the precaution of 

 sinking one or more good wells. This is expensive work, . . . but 







:j a 



Ostrich-chicks. 



the advantage is seen during the protracted droughts. Then, on 

 farms which only possess dams, the ostriches and other stock 

 are seen lying dead in all directions, a most melancholy sight. 

 Where there is a well, however, the animals can always be kept 

 alive. The water may go down rather low, and the supply doled 

 out to the thirsty creatures may not be very plentiful ; but with 

 careful management no stock need be lost during the longest of 

 droughts." 



In the early days of ostrich farming splendid fortunes were 

 made. Feathers were worth $500 a pound, and $2,000 or $2,500 

 was no uncommon price for a good pair of breeding birds, while 

 little chicks were worth $50 each. Indeed, the unhatched eggs 

 have sometimes been valued at the same amount. But with the 

 larger supply, $60 may be regarded as a fair price for the best pair 

 of ostriches, and 30 shillings, as against 25 in the old times, for 

 the feathers of the handsomest bird at one plucking. 



