i8o SAFARI 



is out in the open, as far as possible from any sort of 

 cover. Obviously, the ostrich wants to be able 

 to sit on its nest and catch first sight of any approach- 

 ing enemy. The minute a stranger appears on the 

 horizon the ostrich is up and off on a wandering 

 course that cleverly misleads the jackal or hyena that 

 might be searching for its eggs. 



The nest is simply a shallow pit scraped out of the 

 sand and gravel by the feet of birds. The sand is 

 banked up slightly on the outer edges to form a low 

 wall against which the eggs can rest without rolling 

 out. This is one of the few purely practical and 

 intelligent things of which the ostrich is ever guilty. 

 When about a dozen eggs have been laid the cock 

 decides to get down to serious business and begins to 

 roost on the collection. The hens, always anxious 

 to please, straightway follow suit, taking turns as 

 convenient. 



So far, so good. The trouble is that the hens 

 don't associate the size of the nest with their con- 

 tributions to it. As a result, they go right on 

 merrily laying. After there are about twenty eggs 

 the nest is full. Even then the energetic hens don't 

 stop. Soon the male begins to be annoyed by the 

 mounting cargo of his nest. Playing no favorites, 

 he doesn't hesitate to kick out enough eggs to make 

 himself comfortable for the night. Just as likely as 

 not one of the zealous hens will come along next day 



