'^ 



OSTRICH-FARMING IN 

 SOUTH AFRICA. 



CHAPTER I. 



ostrich-farming: its origin and prospects. 



In treating of Ostrich-farming it is essential to bear in 

 mind what a short time has elapsed since the first 

 domestication of the wild bird, whicli we can only date 

 back about fourteen years ; as, although previous to this 

 a few Ostriches had been kept in zoological gardens, 

 and in parks, like that of the late Sir Walter Currie, at 

 Oatlands Park, Grahamstown, we have not heard that 

 any one had them breeding in a tame state. So that, 

 although we should have to go back a long period to 

 find when the first tamed Ostrich was kept, the domesti- 

 cation of Ostriches for the purpose of farming them 

 for the sake of their plumage must be taken to date 

 from 1867. As to who should bear the palm for being 

 the first to have succeeded in domesticating the Ostrich, 

 i.e.^ to have had a nest from tamed birds, and to have 

 reared their chicks in a tame state, it may be hard 

 to decide. We believe some challenge our claim : 



