OSTRICH PARASOLS SKIN. 257 



bird, only a small portion are of any value. In the pairing 

 season, and it may be at other times, the ostrich, like the 

 turkey-cock, the capercali, and many other birds, is in the 

 habit of drooping its wings, so that the outer feathers trail 

 on the ground, which soon destroys their beauty. The 

 proper time to kill the ostrich for its plumes is shortly 

 after the moulting season, or in the months of March and 

 April. 



The Damaras and the Bechuanas manufacture handsome 

 parasols from the black feathers of the ostrich, which serve 

 as signs of mourning, or are useful for the preservation of 

 the complexion. "It is a beautiful sight," says Harris, "to 

 behold a savage whose skin, somewhat coarser than the hide 

 of a rhinoceros, might vie in point of color with a boot, pro- 

 tecting his complexion by the interposition of such an um~ 

 breUa." 



Some of the tribes of Southern Africa are said to employ 

 ostrich parasols while hunting wild animals, with a similar 

 purpose to that of a Spanish bull-fighter who uses a red cloth. 

 Thus, in case of a wounded beast charging a man, the latter, 

 just at the moment he is about to be seized, suddenly thrusts 

 the supports of the nodding plumes into the ground, and, while 

 the infuriated animal is venting its rage on its supposed vic- 

 tim, the native slips unperceived on one side and transfixes 

 his antagonist. 



The skin of the ostrich is also said to be held in great 

 request, and forms no inconsiderable article of commerce. 

 " The whole defensive armor of the Nasamones, inhabitants 

 of Libya, was manufactured of the birds' thick skin, which, 

 even at the present day, is used as a cuirass by some of the 

 Arab troops." 



The ostrich, though usually dwelling far from the haunts 

 of men, occasionally approaches the homestead, and at such 



bird are said to he preferable to those obtained from the dead ostrich, 

 as being less liable to the attack of worms. 



