Crossing op North and South African Ostriches. 737 



THE CROSSING OF NORTH AFRICAN AND 

 SOUTH AFRICAN OSTRICHES. 



The Success of the Experiment. 



In 1912 some 130 ostriches from Nigeria were imported for tiie 

 purpose of crossing them with South African ostriches, with the object 

 of improving the feathers of the latter, and it is desired to give a 

 short account of the history of these birds and the reasons for their 

 importation. 



Prior to 1911 it had been ascertained that the feathers of the 

 domesticated South African ostriches were of two distinct types. Tiie 

 one, in many respects — tliough enormously improved — resembled the 

 feathers of the wild ostriches which in former days were to be 

 found in large numbers all over South Africa ; the other was entirely 

 different from it and quite unlike the feathers of any of the indigenous 

 wikl birds of South Africa, the chief points of dilference being that 

 the former type was a large " thin," open feather, considerably 

 lacking in the two important qualities of density and strengtli, while 

 the latter was a small compact feather and had most remarkable 

 density and strength. The question arose, where did this dense type, 

 which differed remarkably from the native bird, originate? Inquiries 

 were accordingly made as to the birds imported into South Africa 

 in the past, and it was found that in 1876 four ostriches had 

 been introduced from North Africa. At the instance of Mr. R. W. 

 Thornton, then Government Agriculturist for the Cape Province, the 

 Department of Agriculture made a collection of feathers from the 

 wild ostriches of every land in which they were to be found. When 

 this collection came to hand it was found that certain feathers which 

 had been sent by the British Consul at Tripoli, but which had come 

 from the south-western Soudan, bore a striking resemblance to the 

 dense-feather type found in domestication in South Africa, and it 

 was deduced that the present South African type had evolved from the 

 original importation of North African birds. 



Some time after this it was found that America was endeavouring 

 to secure ostriches with feathers of a dense type which, if successful, 

 would seriously compete with the Union's ostrich feather industry. 

 For this and other reasons the Government took into consideration the 

 advisability of importing some of these birds, and a meeting of the 

 South African Ostrich Breeders' Association was held. The question 

 was thoroughly discussed. A resolution was passed urging the Govern- 

 ment to send at once a Commission to the Soudan to further investi- 

 gate the matter. This was carried into effect, and in August, 1911, the 

 Commission, composed of Messrs. R. W. Thornton, J. M. P. Bowker, 

 and F. C. Smith, left South Africa and proceeded first to England, 

 where they secured the necessary passports and equipment, and from 

 thence to the west coast of Africa, touching at various ports and making 



