The Domesticated Ostrich in South Africa. 7 



was very necessary to strive for in the early days of scientific 

 research, before its intrinsic value was appreciated, but this 

 having been conceded we can now with satisfaction take the 

 wider view, and, where possible, show the relationship of 

 whatever we achieve to human welfare. If I -may be 

 pardoned for introducing a word of personal reference, I 

 should like to say that on coming to South Africa, three years 

 ago, my interest was drawn to the Ostrich from the stand- 

 point of what we are pleased to call pure scientific research. 

 It was only after gaining an acquaintance with the many 

 difficulties and troubles under which the industry is carried 

 out, that I was convinced it was one's duty to embrace in 

 the research aspects which would have a bearing upon some 

 of the practical problems presented by the Ostrich, and thus, 

 if possible, contribute something to advance both science and 

 its applications in the Colony in which our lot is cast. 1 

 shall attempt to give you some account of how the Ostrich 

 industry is carried on at the present time, indicating some of 

 the questions, both of practical and scientific interest, which 

 call for solution *. 



Methods of Gstricli- Farming. 

 After a brief historical introduction the various methods of 

 Ostrich-farming followed in South Africa were described. 

 It was shown that these have all been evolved within the 

 past forty years or so, and differ greatly according to the 

 nature of the veld, whether capable of irrigation or not, and 

 the nature of the farmer, whether progressive or conservative. 

 The fact that the industry is fairly lucrative under proper 

 management has served as a great stimulus to a large 

 ])roportion of the farmers, and at the present time many 

 improvements and advances in methods are in progress. 

 Probably more than with any other stock, the problems 

 involved in successful Ostr-ich management call for high 

 intelligence, ability, and experience on the part of the 

 farmer. 



* What follows is only an abstract of the paper submitted : the 

 complete paper will be published elsewhere. 



