502 EGGS OF THE OSTRICH.. 



The common Ostrich is so well known tliat little need be said of its hnbits, its nse to man- 

 kind, and the mode of hunting it, a ^■ely l>]ief descrii)tion being- all that is necessary. 



This magnificent cn'ature, the largest of all existing birds, iidiabits the hot sandy deserts 

 of Africa, for which mode of life it is wonderfully fitted. In height it measures from six to 

 eight feet, the males being largei' than their mates, and of a blacker tint. The food of the 

 Osti'ich consists mostly of the wild melons which are so beneficently scattered over the sandy 

 wastes, alisorbing and retaining every drop of mtjistnre condensed in the comparatively cool 

 temperature of nigiit, or fallen in tlie biief but sev<'re luin-storms which serve to give new vigor 

 to the scanty desert vegetation and to rtqjlenish the rare watei' springs. 



Besides these melons, which the Ostrich, in common with the lion and other inhabitants 

 of the desert, eats as much for drink as for food, the bird feeds on grasses and hard grain, 

 which it is able to crush in its powerful gizzard, the action of which internal mill is aided by 

 stones and othei- hard substances, wliich the Ostrich picks up and swallows just as ordinary 

 grain-eating birds swallow sand and small pebbles. In ca|)tivity the Ostrich will swallow 

 almost anything that comes in its way, such as brickbats, knives, old shoes, scraps of wood, 

 feathers, and teni>enny nails, in addition to the legitimate stones. It has even been seen to 

 swallo\\' in succession a. brood of duclvlings; but whether in that case the bird was imjielled by 

 normal hunger, wiiether it was afflicted by a- morbid appetite, or whether it was merely eating 

 the young birds for sheer mischief, are questions open for consideration. 



The Ostrich is a gregarious bird, associating in flocks, and being fieqiiently found mixed 

 up with the vast herds of quaggas, zebras, giraftes, and antelojjes wliich inhabit the same 

 desert plains. It is also polygamous, each male bird having from two to seven wives. The 

 nest of the Ostrich is a mere shallow hole scooped in the sand, in which are jilaced a large 

 number of eggs, all set ui:)right, and with a number of supplementary eggs laid round the 

 margin. 



The eggs are hatched mostly by the lieat of the sun ; but, contrary to the popular belief, 

 the pai'ent birds are veiy watchful over their nest, and aid in hatching liie eggs by sitting 

 upon them dining the night. 15oth parents give thi^ir assistance in this task. The eggs which 

 are laid around the margin of tlie nest are not sat ui)Oii, and consequently are not hatched, so 

 that when the eggs within the nest are quite hard, and the young bird is nearly developed, 

 those around are quite fit for food. Their object is supposed to be tu give nourishment to the 

 young birds before they are strong enough to follow their parents and forage for themselves. 



Each egg will weigh on the avei'age aliout three pounds, being equal to two dozen ordinary 

 fowl's eggs. Yet one of them is not thought too much for a single man to eat at a meal, and 

 in one instance two men linished live in the course of an afternoon. The ajjproved method of 

 dressing Ostrich eggs is to set the egg upright on the fire, break a round hole at the top, 

 squeeze a- forked stick into the ai)erture, leaving the stem i)rotruding. and then to twist the 

 stick rapidly between the hands so as to be;it up the contents of the egg while it is being 

 cooked. Within each egg there are generally some little smooth bean-shaped stones, which 

 are composed of the same substance that forms the shell. 



These eggs are put to various usefid pui-poses. Not t)nly are they eaten, but the shell is 

 cai'efully preserved and chipi)ed into si)oons and ladles, or the entire shell employed as a 

 wat*?)' vessel, the aperture at the to]) being stuli'ed with grass. The mode of filling these shells 

 from sandy pools is ingenious and simple. The business of procuring water is entrusted to 

 the women, eacli of whom is finnished with a hollow reed, a bunch of grass, and her egg- 

 shells. Slx' makes a hole in the l)ed of the water-pool as deep as her arms will reach, ties the 

 bunch of grass at the end of the leed, ]»ushes it to the l)ottom of the hole, and i-anis the wet 

 sand tightly I'ound it. After waiting a little for tlu^ water to accumulate, she applies her 

 tnoulh to tile upper end of the reed, drawing the watei' thi'ough the tuft of grass at the bottom 

 and so lUtering it. Having filled her mouth with water, she puts another reed into the egg- 

 shell, and i)ours the water from her month into the shell. In this manner a whole village is 

 supplied with water, the shells being carefully buried to prevent evaporation. 



The Bushmen make terrible use of these water shells. When they have determined on a 

 raid, they send successive parties on the line, loaded with Ostrich egg-shells i\\\\ of water. 



