CHAPTER XV. 



(Dstnclj (continued). 

 VIII. 



DUEING the period of laying, this pacific humour, with, 

 the male at least, gives place to a violent character. 

 The males are then said to exhibit such rage that it is 

 difficult to approach them ; and sometimes even their 

 masters have been obliged to defend themselves against 

 them with stones, clubs, and even guns. North of 

 the equator the laying season begins towards the end of 

 autumn, and continues until spring. Its period and 

 duration depend on the degree of fertility of the year ; 

 but in any case it takes up a large share of the lifo 

 of an ostrich. The Arabs say even that if food is 

 abundant this troubled period is prolonged through a 

 great portion of the year. It is then that the male 

 takes that roseate tint on his legs and neck, which is 

 caused by the activity acquired by circulation ; he puts 

 himself in pursuit of the female, and closing his beak 

 and drawing up his neck, the top of which is prodi- 

 giously dilated, he gives utterance to repeated hoarse 



