178 REMARKS ON A RECENT PROPOSAL TO INTRODUCE OSTRICHES. 



Threaded on stout wire by which goods are suspended from 

 the beams of store-houses, empty shells are an efficient 

 precaution against injury by rats. 



Prior to 1864, when modern experimental domestication 

 commenced, the high prices ruling for feathers led to the 

 indiscriminate slaughter of ostriches. In easily accessible 

 districts they were soon exterminated, and there was occa- 

 sion to fear that these interesting and valuable birds would 

 soon become as extinct as their near connection, the Moa of 

 New Zealand, and the enormous iEpyornis of Madagascar. 

 But man's ingenuity and perseverance have counteracted the 

 evil effects of his previous greed and destructiveness, and 

 there is now no danger of so deplorable an event. 



The author of the " Dominion of Man" shows that the 

 settlers of South Africa are not the first Ostrich farmers, for 

 in this, as in other instances, we find that the ancient 

 Egyptians have been our predecessors. He states :— " On 

 the monuments there are representations of ostriches which 

 are under the dominion of man, and which are being handled 

 in a manner which shows a thorough acquaintance with the 

 character of the bird." 



Bather less than thirty years ago the first attempt was 

 made m the Cape Colony to keep ostriches in confinement 

 with a view to profit. The feasibility of rearing their chickens 

 artificially was soon demonstrated ; the value of the new 

 industry required no advertising ; imitators of the original 

 experimenters were numerous, and in a few years Ostrich 

 farming was a firmly established resource of the Cape pas- 

 torahsts. It was not necessary, however, to be a lar^e land- 

 holder to commence operations, for breeding birds are 

 always kept separate from the flock, each pair being 

 enclosed in a camp or paddock of convenient size, varying 

 in extent from five to forty acres, and chosen in a level 

 locality, free from rocks, stumps, and holes. With rare ex- 

 ceptions domesticated birds are monogamous, but some diffi- 

 culty often arises in inducing them to mate according to 

 the desire of their owners. The hens are sometimes most 

 capricious in their choice, whilst the males display absolute 

 brutality towards unappreciated companions, and many 

 changes are occasionally found necessary before satisfactory 

 arrangements can be concluded. The breeding camps are 

 enclosed by stone walls, thorn brush, or more frequently wire 

 fences; and where a number of enclosures are together, the 

 dividing fences must be double, with a space between of not less 

 than 6ft. or 7ft., to prevent the male birds from fighting A 

 very slight enclosure suffices to confine ostriches at ordinary 

 times, for they cannot step over a fence a yard high, but 

 when frightened or enraged they rush blindly at any obstacle, 

 and m consequence all enclosures must be secure. 





