ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 



THE PENNSYLVANIA OSTRICH FARM 

 The arrival of the caravan of ostriches 



Unfortunately for him, this backing was not 

 forthcoming, and lie found himself saddled with 

 the farm and a considerable number of white- 

 elephant birds on his hands. Handicapped by 

 lack of knowledge and by insufficient funds, he 

 was unable to meet his constantly accumulating 

 obligations, and a second sale was shortly held, 

 this time by the sheriff. But the intrepid form- 

 er owner, mortgaging some property held by his 

 family, again bought the farm, for a consider- 

 ably smaller sum than before. 



The Ostrich Farm was then partly righted 

 and attempted to continue on its way. But vari- 

 ous obstacles arose. Finally, the owner an- 

 nounced his inability longer to provide food for 

 the few remaining birds, and consigned them 

 to the mercy of the local agent of the Society 

 for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. 



The agent, although rinding himself burdened 

 with unexpected duty, rose to the situation and 

 forthwith provided food; but calls of distress 

 were sent to various potential sources of relief, 

 among them the Zoological Park. 



We were told that if we would take them 

 away, we could have the birds at our own price. 

 At that time we had a good collection of os- 

 triches, and did not really need more, but fin- 

 ally we made an offer of a nominal sum for six 

 of the birds. A prompt acceptance of our terms 



specified only one condition, — that we should 

 remove them at once. Now fairly embarked in 

 the enterprise, we could not turn back, and the 

 writer was appointed envoy extraordinary to 

 the Bloomsburg Ostrich Farm. 



No time was lost in getting to Bloomsburg; 

 and once there, the farm was soon under in- 

 spection. It was found to be in possession of 

 one South African cock ostrich and five North 

 African hens. all. it must be said, being birds of 

 unusual size and quality. It is a fact of history 

 that the tine jet-black cock bird acquired by us 

 once changed hands, with his mate, at the aston- 

 ishing price of $l,tOO! Beside the six good 

 birds there were certain under-sized or other- 

 wise undesirable specimens. The latter, on 

 being rejected for shipment to New York, were 

 promptly disposed of to the various hostelries 

 of Bloomsburg. between whom great rivalry 

 arose as to who should serve the first ostrich 

 dinner ! 



After a day occupied in building and assem- 

 bling suitable crates, we were ready to com- 

 mence the operation of packing. Strangely 

 enough. Bloomsburg seemed far less interested 

 in the departure of the ostriches than it had 

 been in their arrival. No crowds of willing 

 helpers appeared to assist in crating the birds, 

 and there was a striking lack of vans. Instead. 



