The Zoologist — March, 1874. 3917 



Ostrich Economy. — A new industry is likely to spring up in cultivating 

 the ostrich. A French officer in Algeria, having discovered that some 

 osU'ich eggs which were accidentally left in a hole in the wall of a bake- 

 house were, in course of time, hatched by the gentle and continuous heat 

 to which they were exposed, conceived the idea of, first, keeping ostriches 

 in confinement, and, secondly, hatching the eggs in artificial incubators 

 and rearing the "chicks" thus hatched. For several years he assiduously 

 carried his idea into practice; and, after repeated experiments, has suc- 

 ceeded in discovering all the secret details of the domestic economy of the 

 ostrich. Instead of the cold-hearted parent "travellers' tales" have led us 

 to suppose the ostrich to be, it seems, if the narratire to which we have 

 referred be trustworthy, to be a most exemplary parent. Its nest certainly 

 is made simply by scooping a large hole out in the sand, but over that nest 

 it watches with unceasing devotion. Not only the hen but the male bird 

 takes part in the incubation, thus setting an example which puts our 

 domesticated fowl to shame. The breeding season commences in February 

 or March, and for a whole month the hen bird continues laying — 

 producing an egg about every other day : these are carefully watched, 

 moved about every day, and as they increase in number the "sitting" 

 becomes more ar 1 more close. About eighteen eggs are laid on an average, 

 but all of these are seldom hatched ; two or three are invariably placed 

 outside the nest, for a purpose which we will explain presently. About 

 fifty-three days is the natural period of incubation, and the cock and 

 hen take their turns with unfailing regularity on the nest. Sometimes 

 Mr. Ostrich imitates Brigham Young's example, and has several wives. 

 When this is the case, he takes charge of the nest by night, and during 

 the day, while he takes a stroll with some of his wives, one at least remains 

 with the eggs. The nest is frequently made miles away from a blade of 

 grass, and daily excursions are necessary in search of food ; and here is the 

 explanation of the ejected eggs ; the baby ostrich would be unable to travel 

 so far on his first entry into the world, and these eggs are left to be broken 

 by the mother for his sustenance during the first few days of his life. The 

 sheU being cracked by her powerful beak, the new-born ostrich eats the 

 yolk as it runs on to the sand, frequently consuming large quantities of 

 sand too. The hard substances, such as pebbles, iron nails, &c., which 

 have been found in the gizzards of ostriches, are swallowed for the purpose 

 of assisting digestion ; the grinding process which takes place is common to 

 all birds. It is said that in Italy the knowledge of this fact is turned to 

 account by lapidaries, who make turkeys swallow gems that they may be 

 subjected to the process for a time, and thus receive the appearance of old 

 stones. "What a saving of time would be effected by using an ostrich for 

 this purpose ! 



SECOND SEKIES — VOL. IX. ** 



