CHASED BY AN OSTRICH 81 



wide crotch. This stick he used to protect him- 

 self when an ostrich became ill-tempered and 

 attacked him; he would push the fork against 

 the bird's neck and hold the creature off until 

 it became discouraged and was willing to "be 

 good." 



A cock ostrich when peevish has a disagreeable 

 habit of running up to a person, bowling him 

 over with a blow of its foot, and then dancing on 

 him. 



Unless a man 'has one of those forked poles 

 when he is attacked by an ostrich, he is likely 

 to be seriously injured by the bird's powerful 

 kicks. In such a case the best thing to do is to 

 lie flat on the ground and let yourself be trod- 

 den on. You may be pounded black and blue 

 and badly bruised, but even that is better than 

 having a fractured skull, broken ribs or limbs, 

 or great gashes cut in your flesh by the bird's 

 strong feet. 



It is the duty of safari managers to warn 

 greenhorns of the danger from tame ostriches, 

 and as one of Percival's birds was noted for its 

 truculent disposition, our party had been prop- 

 erly cautioned. 



Unpacking our outfit at Kapiti, where we 



