96 OSTRICH-FARMING IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



the answers given, a good idea could be formed of 

 the vahie of the pair as breeders : — 



1. What age are they ? 



2. How many years have they been breeding to- 

 gether ? 



3. How many nests have they had each year ? 



4. How many eggs do they average in eacli nest? 



5. How many of these nests have they sat out ? 



6. What average of chicks do they bring out ? 



7. Are their chickens strong and heaUhy ? 



Of course many large breeders could not answer 

 these questions categorically, but they ^vould then give 

 a general character of the pair, whether good, fair, 

 or indifferent breeders. 



With regard to the first two questions, our expe- 

 rience is that the older the better. We have birds that 

 we know to be over sixteen years, and they breed more 

 freely, sit more steadily,, and bring out a larger per- 

 centage than any birds we have. 



Three-year old birds will sometimes breed (especially 

 the hens), but no reliance can be placed on their doing 

 so ; and if they do, I should doubt its being good 

 either for them or their progeny. 



The common difficulty of getting a young pair to 

 breed is, the cock gets so excited and furious that the 

 hen becomes timid and runs from him. Holding the hen's 



