The Domesticated Ostrich in South Africa. 



classes are remunerative, though much less so than formerly; 

 as a consequence all progressive farmers are rapidly weeding 

 out their inferior birds. 



The value of a feather is technically determined by a 

 number of " points,'^ which have reference to the length, 

 breadth, density, and compactness of the flue ; the shape, 

 especially as regards the tip, butts, and sides of the feather ; 

 the strength, quality, and lustre of the flue ; narrowness and 

 strength of shaft ; and freedom from barring defects. 



Phima<jes of the Ostrich. 



By the plumage of the Ostrich is understood the entire 

 covering of feathers at any one time. This is not the same 

 at all periods, for the bird varies greatly in appearance 

 between its chick and adult condition. Four well-marked 

 plumages can be distinguished, namely, wateZ, chick, juvenal, 

 and adult, but the passage from one to another is only gradual, 

 there being no well-defined moulting period in the Ostrich. 

 Until the adult stage is reached there is an intermingling 

 of the feathers belonging to different stages. The slight 

 seasonal changes in South Africa have but little influence on 

 the feathers, and when the adult is reached there is no 

 difference in the appearance between the summer and winter 

 plumage. A detailed description was given of the different 

 plumages of the Ostrich, it being emphasised that both sexes 

 are practically alike as far as the juvenal stage, and that 

 afterwards the hen retains the drab body-feathers throughout 

 its life, while the cock goes a stage beyond, and its drab 

 feathers are replaced by black. 



An interesting point has revealed itself in connection with 

 the plumage changes. It is found that a new feather 

 appearing from a socket from which an immature feather 

 had previously been plucked assumes the character which the 

 plumage has reached at that ])articular time, independently 

 of the sequence from the particular feather socket. Also, a 

 feather does not change its character during the course 

 of its development, though other feathers apjiearing while 

 it is in process of growth may be wholly different. 



