A DESERT NINCOMPOOP 183 



While father and mothers and chicks are still all 

 together in the early stages of this period of parental 

 pride the yoirng can still rely on some protection if 

 the cock notices a jackal or hyena advancing. At 

 such times the ostrich is very ferocious and will 

 boldly charge the beast who threatens the safety 

 of the chicks. Sometimes, as a ruse, he even pre- 

 tends to be lame. But even this gesture of defense 

 is part of the whole prideful personality of the big 

 bird; for when the danger has passed he does not 

 return for anxious investigation of his offspring to see 

 if they are still safe and sound, but struts up and 

 down with an air of braggadocio to advertise the 

 splendid courage he has just shown. 



With such a streak of moral weakness running 

 through ostrich parenthood, it is not unexpected 

 to find the chicks drifting away altogether from their 

 fathers and mothers. Often have I seen them out on 

 the veldt wandering around in forlorn groups with 

 every appearance of never having known true 

 motherly love. Once Osa and I came on a bunch of 

 twelve big ostriches accompanied by at least a 

 hundred poor little ostriches. The big birds looked 

 just like a bevy of rich tourists pretending they 

 didn't notice the ragamuffins that were following 

 them about. Our hearts went out to the little 

 fellows, who seemed utterly miserable and full of 

 doubt as to what to do next. 



