254 STONES FOUND IN EGGS THE CHICKS. 



apt to quit the spot), but by means of a long stick they rake 

 them out of the nest as fast as the birds lay them." 



A peculiarity in regard to the eggs of the ostrich, and, so 

 far as I am aware, confined to the eggs of this bird alone, is 

 mentioned by several African travelers. For example : 

 " The farmer here likewise informed me," says the author 

 just quoted, " that a stone or two is sometimes found in the 

 ostrich's eggs, which is hard, white, rather flat and smooth, 

 and about the size of a bean. These stones are cut and 

 made into buttons, but I never had the good fortune to see 

 any of them." 



Again : " In these eggs," writes Barrow, " are frequently 

 discovered a number of small oval-shaped pebbles, about the 

 size of a marrowfat pea, of a pale yellow color, and exceed- 

 ingly hard. In one egg we found nine, and in another twelve 

 of such stones." 



Notwithstanding the number of eggs laid, seldom more 

 than thirty to thirty-five are hatched. Almost as soon as the 

 chicks (which are about the size of pullets) have escaped from 

 the shell, they are able to walk about and to follow the 

 mother, on v/hom they are dependent for a considerable 

 period. And Nature, with her usual care, has provided the 

 young with a color and a covering admirably suited to the 

 localities they frequent. The color is a kind of pepper-and- 

 salt, harmonizing wonderfully with the variegated sand and 

 gravel of the plains which they are in the habit of travers- 

 ing. Indeed, when crouching under my very eyes, I have 

 had the greatest difficulty in discerning the chicks. The 

 covering is neither down nor feathers, but a kind of " prickly 

 external," which, no doubt, is an excellent protection against 

 injury from the coarse gravel and the stunted vegetation 

 among which they dwell. 



The flesh of the young ostrich is not unpalatable, but 

 that of the old bird is any thing but good. To my notion, 

 it tastes very much like that of the zebra. According to the 



