310 THE FARMER AT HOME. 



One of the wings, without the feathers, is a foot and a half ; and being 

 stretched out, with the feathers, is three feet. The plumage is much 

 alike in all ; that is, generally black and white ; though some of them 

 are said to be gray. The greatest feathers are at the extremities of 

 the wings and tail, and the largest are generally white. The next 

 row is black and white : and of the small feathers on the back and 

 belly, some are white and others black. There are no feathers on the 

 sides, nor yet on the thighs, nor under the wings. The lower part of 

 the neck, about half way, is covered with still smaller feathers than 

 those on the belly and back ; and those, like the former, also are of 

 different colors. The head and upper part of the neck are covered 

 with hair. 



The season for laying depends on the climate ; in the northern 

 parts of Africa it is about the beginning of July; in the south it is 

 about the latter end of December. These birds are very prolific, and 

 lay generally from thirty to forty eggs in a season, and about twelve 

 at one clutch. It has been commonly reported that the female de- 

 posits them in the sand ; and, covering them up, leaves them to be 

 hatched by the heat of the climate, and then permits the young to 

 shift for themselves. Very little of this, however, is true : no bird has 

 a stronger affection for her young than the ostrich, and none watches 

 her eggs with greater assiduity. It happens, indeed, in those hot 

 climates, that there is less necessity for the continual incubation of the 

 female ; and she more frequently leaves her eggs, which are in no 

 fear of being chilled by the weather : but though she sometimes for- 

 sakes them by day, she always carefully broods over them by night ; 

 nor is it more true that they forsake their young after they are excluded 

 the shell. On the contrary, the young ones are not even able to walk 

 for several days after they are hatched. During this time the old ones 

 are very assiduous in supplying them with grass, and very careful to 

 defend them from danger ; nay, they encounter every danger in their 

 defence. 



OTTAR OF ROSES. An aromatic oil, obtained from the flowers 

 of the rose, but in such small quantities that half an ounce can hardly 

 be procured from a hundred pounds of the petals. This oil is solid 

 and white a^ the common temperature of the atmosphere, but on the 

 application of heat, becomes fluid, and assumes a yellow color. It is 

 brought in considerable quantities from Turkey, and is sold at the 

 extravagant price of from fifteen to twenty dollars an ounce. That 

 from the East Indies, where it is said to be chiefly manufactured, 

 when genuine, has been sold at a much more exorbitant price. It is 

 frequently adulterated with oil of sandal wood, but the fraud is easily 

 detected by those who are accustomed to its scent, and also by the 

 fluidity. The true ottar of roses is, undoubtedly, the most elegant 

 perfume known. 



OTTER. The American otter is about five feet in length, in- 



