TlIK DOMK.STICATKI) ( )s'l'l{I<;it IN' SOUTII AfIUCA. l")7 



ostrich, it being einpliasised that both sexes are practically alike as far 

 as the Juvenal plumage, and that then the hen retains the drab 

 plumage thmughout its lift-, while the cock goes a stage beyond, and its 

 drab body feathers are replaced by black feathers. An interesting 

 point has revealed itsi»lf in connection with these changes. Tt is 

 found that any new feathers appearing assume the character which the 

 phunage has reached at that particular time, independently of their 

 seijuence from the i)articular feather socket. Also a feather does not 

 change its plumage character during the course of its development, 

 though other feathers appearing while it is in process of growth may 

 be whf»lly ditierent. 



Clipping and Quilling Feathkrs. 



The operation of taking the feathers from the ostrich is carried 

 out at such a time as to secure the plumes when they are at their 

 liighest perfection, and in such a manner as to inflict little or no 

 injury to the bird. The process of clipping is altogether harmless, and 

 signifies no more than the cutting of one's hair or the trimming of the 

 nails. All these are epidermal productions, and as such are devoid of 

 nerves and blood-\esse]s, and it is these facts which completely justify 

 the removal of the ostrich's feathers as a humane act, in marked con- 

 trast witli the reckless shooting of man)' other birds, the feathers of 

 which are used for decorative purposes. No objections on humane 

 grounds have ever been made to the ostrich industry, nor can be 

 reasonably advanced by any one acquainted with the methods em- 

 ployed. In the " Importation of Plumage Prohibition Bill," recently 

 introduced in the British House of Lords by Lord A\ebury, and 

 " designed to check the wanton and wholesale destruction of birds 

 which is being carried on eveiywhere throughout the British Empii'e, 

 and in all parts of the world, \\'ithout regard to the agricultural^ 

 educational, and :esthetic value of birds," ostriches rightly receive 

 special exemption. 



The time of the year at which to clip the plumes and draw the^ 

 quills is a matter of much concern to the farmer, for it may determine 

 whether the succeeding crop of feathers will be the best the bird is 

 capable of producing or one greatly inferior in value. 



A biological fact is established which is of the greatest value in 

 ostrich management, namely, that the removal of a t[uill, whether ripe 

 or unripe, at once stimulates the germ below to acti\ity, and the new- 

 feather begins to appear, quite irrespective of any natural sequence. 

 The feather germ would not become active were the quill left in posi- 

 tion, but does so when the quill is drawn. Thus by artificially remov- 

 ing all the old quills, when ripe or nearly ripe, a complete new crop of 

 feathers is secured, all of w^hich come to ripeness at about the same 

 time. It is this fact which renders the farming oi the ostrich so much 

 more satisfactory than would be the case if the feather growth were 

 dependent upon the irregularities of natural moulting. 



Both an eight and a t\velve month system of quilling are followed,. 



