AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. i6i 



The Ostrich is not hard to raise. One man can take care of and do 

 justice to a hundred ostriches; the creatures feed on chopped beets, 

 oranges and corn, though too much of the latter edible has a tendency to 

 make the males fight. They are peacable and even timid as a rule; dur- 

 ing the breeding season the males becomes ferocious and stand ready to 

 attack all intruders at all times, but the hens always run away when ap- 

 proached. All day long in the warm California sunshine the little chicks 

 may be seen feeding upon the well kept lawns of the Ostrich farm; the 

 flocks of adult birds hurriedly chase around the large corrals; from morn- 

 ing till night the mating Ostriches in the pens march up and down or se- 

 quester peacefully on the family nest, gazing with their large beautiful 

 eyes upon the passing crowd. While the brain of an Ostrich weighs 



YOUNG OSTRICH. 



only an ounce and a half, it is possessed of a memory. If a man ir- 

 ritates a large male Ostrich in the breeding pens the creature will remem- 

 ber him; and upon his appearance weeks afterwards will advance to at- 

 tack him. The keepers can go into the pens without danger, although it 

 is noticed that they are constantly on the watch when they do so. One 

 of the tallest of keepers at this farm has frequently held out at arm's 

 length a belligerent Ostrich, the creature's legs flying out with marvelous 

 force and rapidity but not quite reaching the body of the individual. With 

 wings outstretched and mouth open the bird is truly a startling sight, but 

 the denoument of his rage is after he has set down a minute and worked 

 himself with open wings from side to side; this must be his challenge; he 

 then rises and rushes at the object of attack with great speed, at the same 

 time kicking to the front with his long muscular legs; a blow on such oc- 

 casions has been known in Africa to result in death to the attacked 

 whether man or horse. 



One of the largest expositions of Ostrich feather manufacture in the 

 world is contained in the large show room of this Ostrich farm; beautiful 

 long Ostrich feathers of all shades and qualities, retaining their natural 



