A DESERT NINCOMPOOP 185 



Suddenly the ostrich was frightened by a man coming 

 up behind. He plunged forward and struck at the 

 black, ripping him completely open. It is for this 

 reason that when the bird is plucked the plucker 

 usually leans on him from behind, since no ostrich can 

 kick to the rear. 



The philosophy of the ostrich seems to be built on 

 a too-proud-to-fight basis, as I have never seen them 

 attack one another. But no doubt beasts of prey are 

 wary of that vicious downward blow, as I have never 

 seen signs of an ostrich having been killed by another 

 animal. 



I think one of the most remarkable ostrich adven- 

 tures of which I have ever heard happened in Boston. 

 One night a drunken man reeled into a dark shed of 

 the Zoo where an ostrich was kept. The huge bird 

 rose to defend itself when the man staggered toward 

 the comer where it had been sleeping. By sheerest 

 accident the man's hands came into contact with the 

 creature's long neck before it had a chance to strike 

 the usual murderous blow with its foot. Luckily, the 

 man hung on. Ensued a terrific struggle to the 

 death of the ostrich. 



African natives capture and pluck ostriches with a 

 gentleness that is altogether unexpected. They take 

 advantage of the fact that the bird probably loses 

 all defiance when its head is covered. The native 

 fashions a cone of bark the inside of which he smears 



