J. K. DUKRDKN Hif) 



auppcKHiHl to Ih» the Ci\»c with tho hright iniptiiil colourH of bin Is. For 

 northorn cocks arc a bright scarh't <»vcr all their ex|M)Hc<l |)arU at the 

 time of si'xual ri|KMies.s while s^uithcrn cm'ks are scjirlet only over the* 

 head and the tJirsus and are tar less striking in tlu'ir g<'n<'nd ap|)«*arancr, 

 yet ft northern htMi will crouch just as freely for the latter as for the 

 fonner. Occasionally ostriclns exhibit a dim su^^^estion of |)referential 

 nmtin^, l>ut in pnictice it is tound that any hen will jwiirwith Jiny vah-U, 

 and in " cainpini^ otV" as bre<Mlei>i the fanner never takes into accoinit 

 any |)ossible preferenci's on the part of the birds themselves. In a st;itc 

 of natun*. t»n the o|>en vi>ld. a c«K'k gathers round him one or more hens 

 jvs the breeding scjuion apj)i()aches, and v<'rv definite spatial limitations 

 become established am«»ng the diti'erent breeding sets, and woe betide 

 any cock which may wander (»n the area appropriated by another. In 

 all this however thi' hens are purely j)iussive and indifferent, and are 

 prone to lay in the s,ime nest, jus many as (JO or 70 eggs being sometimes 

 found in the one shallow depression. Further, Jis in most other birds, 

 the plumage is at its highest stiite of development at the beginning of 

 the mating se;uson, as if still further adding to the attractiveness of the 

 cock. Yet farmers .is often as not clip the plumes before mating birds, 

 and so preserve them from wear and tear, without however any influence 

 on the readiness with which pairing takes place. 



The Northern Ostrich. In North African chicks the skin is a bright 

 deep yellow, almost orange, over the legs and head, and a slightly paler 

 yellow over the body and neck. As maturity is reached the hen becomes 

 a light yellow, the tarsal scales assuming a light or dark horn\' brown. 

 Some northern hens are slightly pink over parts of the body, and the 

 colour may show through the white downy covering of the neck. 



The North African cock undergoes remarkable colour changes as 

 sexual maturity is attained, which are a sure guide to the farmer as to 

 the breeding condition of the bird. The deep yellow of the chick is 

 gradually replaced by a light yellow, this by pink, and then by red, 

 reaching a bright scjirlet over the legs, body, neck and head as the 

 actual inating period is reached. The bright scarlet colour contrasts 

 strongly with the jet black body-feathers, white waving wings, erect 

 light brown tail feathere and fleecy white down of the neck, and makes 

 of him a glorious creature as he prances about in his breeding camp in 

 all the pri(Je and pugnacity of his sex. The nuptial colours pde greatlv 

 when nesting begins, and also when the breeding season is over, the 

 body being reduced to a pale pink or brick C(jluur. At its height so 



