BY JAS. ANDREW. 



179 



During the nesting season the male is most pugnacious and 

 may only be approached in safety with great precaution. He 

 resents the intrusion of any visitors on his domain and proves 

 a most formidable opponent. His mode of attack is by a 

 series of kicks. The leg is thrown forwards and outwards 

 until the foot, armed with a most formidable nail, is high in the 

 air, it is then brought down with terrific force, serious enough 

 to the unhappy human being or animal struck with the flat of 

 the foot but much worse if caught and ripped by the toe. 

 Instances are known of men being killed outright by a single 

 kick, and I remember, whilst on a visit in the neighbourhood, 

 that on a farm near Graaff Eeinet a horse's back was broken 

 hy one such blow aimed at its rider. If attacked a man 

 should never seek safety in flight ; a few yards and the bird 

 is within striking distance and the worst consequences may 

 result. The alternative is to lie flat on the ground and 

 submit with as much resignation as possible to the inevitable 

 and severe pummelling which it may be expected will be 

 repeated at intervals until a means of escape presents itself, 

 or the bird affords an opportunity of being caught by the neck, 

 which if tightly held and kept down prevents much further 

 mischief, tinder such circumstances, however, I have known 

 a bird with a badly calculated kick strike the back of its own 

 head scattering the brains, a serious loss of valuable 

 property to the farmer. It is, of course, an easy matter to 

 break a bird's neck when in the position described, but at the 

 time to which I refer the high price of birds prohibited such 

 a mode of relief except under the most exceptionally 

 dangerous circumstances. The early practice amongst farmers 

 Was to enter the camps protected with a long pole forked at 

 the end. As the bird advanced his neck was received in the 

 fork and his feet kept beyond striking distance ; but as they 

 soon learned to suddenly back out of the prongs and before a 

 fresh defence could be arranged to rush the intruder, it has 

 been the custom more recently to carry a small thorn bush 

 at the end of a long staff, which, always kept at the level of the 

 bird's eyes, proves a tolerably efficient protection. It 

 is usual for two men to enter a camp together when any 

 Work has to be performed, one to act as guard. 



Confined in such small enclosures ostriches require, of course, 

 some artificial food; this generally consists of mealies, or Indian 

 corn, and often the leaves of the prickly pear chopped into 

 pieces. They are also furnished with a supply of pounded 

 bones. It is usual to keep drinking water in the camps, but 

 as to whether this is necessary opinions differ. Birds have 

 been deprived of water for nine months, whilst those in an 

 adjoining enclosure had an unlimited quantity, but there was 

 Jio apparent difference in their condition or health. 



As a first step towards domestic duty the male bird, in 



