254 



SOME KESl'LTS OF OSTRICH INVESTIGATIONS. 



but only two chicks belonging to the second hybritl generation 

 (F2) have been reared. (PI. 31*.).) The earher niatings were 

 carried out with whichever of the northern birds attained sexual 

 maturity, irrespective of their plumage qualities or other 

 characters; but with the abundant material now available, matings 

 are made with a definite purpose in view. The long period 

 between maturity of one generation and the next, usually between 

 three and four years, necessarilv renders progress slow. 



Characters of the Northern and Soi'thekn ( )stkicii. 



The distinguisliing characters of the northern ( !'l. 2\) and 

 the southern ostrich (PI. 2b) are as follows: — 



A. — The North African Ostrich. Struthio camelus. Lam. — 

 The species is larger and stronger than the South African bird, 

 the head reaching about 814 ft. from the ground; the lengih of 

 the body from the tip of the beak to the end of the tail is about 

 8 ft., and the total weight about 275 lbs. The neck is also longer, 

 about 33/2 ft. in length, and the body feathers exte.id u]'wards 





Fig. 2. 



for ab.)ut i;'4 ft. The legs are longer, thicker, and more robust, 

 the knee joint being at least 4 ft. from the ground, and the feet 

 are larger ; a claw is sometimes present on the small toe, and the 

 scales over the large toe may show one and rarelv two breaks. 



(Fig- 3-) 



The number of wing plumes or remiges is about 36 to each 



wing, but varies from 33 to 39. 



The colour of the skin in immature birds of both <exes, as 

 well as of mature hens, is a creamy yellow, while the mature cock 

 is bright red or scarlet on the legs, head and neck, and red or 

 pink over the body generally. 



The crown of the head has a bald patch, either single or 

 ])artly divided. (Fig. 2.) 



The egg is smooth as if polished, ]iractically free from deep 

 ])ittings or pores, and larger and more rounded than that of the 



