Experiments and Investigations. 28:^ 



{d) Ostrich Section. 



Cross-breeding Experiments. — Experiments are being conducted 

 to find out whether the feathers of the ostrich can be improved by 

 introducing- the density and strength of the North African feather 

 into the length, breadth, and shapeliness of that of the South African 

 bird. For this purpose extensive cross-breeding experiments are 

 being conducted with North African and South African varieties of 

 ostrich. 



Line-breeding experiments. — An attempt is being made to 

 ascertain to what extent line-breeding, i.e. (a) the mating together of 

 brother and sister, and (b) mating of father and daughter, can be 

 carried on with ostriches without having a detrimental effect on the 

 constitution of the bird. 



The Best Breeding Age. — Experiments to find out whether the 

 first lot of chicks which a pair of birds produce are superior to those 

 produced later in life. 



Hotv long the same Birds should be Mated together. — ^Experi- 

 ments are being conducted to ascertain whether the breeding birds 

 should not be mated differently each year. That is, when breeders 

 are mated the same way over a considerable period whether the chicks 

 do not gradually deteriorate in quality. 



Number of Feathers in the Wing. — It has been ascertained that 

 a great variety exists in the numbers of feathers produced in the wings 

 of different birds. An attempt is being made by mating together 

 birds with high numbers and others with low numbers, to find out 

 whether these numbers cannot be relatively increased or decreased in 

 their progeny. 



2'he Pineal Vesicle. — It has been found that a structure similar 

 to the pineal vesicle found in some reptiles exists in the embryo of the 

 ostrich. This structure appears for a few days and again disappears 

 before hatching. Investigations are being made to find out whether 

 this structure is actually similar to the pineal vesicle or third eye 

 of reptiles. 



Embryology. — Up to the present practically no work has been 

 done on the embryology of the ostrich. An attempt is now being 

 made to collect and preserve a complete set of embryos from the start 

 of incubation to the time of hatching. 



(e) Chemical Section. 



Soil and water investigations are being continued. Reports 

 dealing with these will be published in the Journal from time to time. 



(/) Zoological Section. 



Karakul sheep investigations are still in progress. Reports from 

 1916 to date are being published in the Journal. Investigation work 

 to ascertain secondary host of tapeworm in ostriches. 



