BY JAS. ANDREW. 



183 



A peculiar blemish is often observed in ostrich feathers 

 procured from tame birds, which is known as the " hunger 

 streak." It appears, according to the authors of " Ostriches 

 and Ostrich farming," as a line of imperfection across the 

 web of each feather, chiefly in those of the wings, while on 

 the shaft the mark may not only be seen but felt as a slightly 

 projecting ridge. The injury "from this cause is sometimes 

 such as to occasion the feathers to break off." "It occurs 

 most frequently in time of drought, when the birds are 

 unable to procure their natural diet, and have to be fed 

 on maize, or such other dry food as is most easily obtain- 

 able. This produces an unhealthy condition of skin, and 

 experience has shown that the remedy lies in the cultivation 

 Of prickly confrey, which not only withstands droughts well, 

 but furnishes the birds with excellent food well suited to 

 their requirements. 



Feathers require no preparation for sale except washino- 

 and careful classification. Of the different grades sorted for 

 the London market those from wild birds rank first, then 

 White tame feathers, the best only worth half as much as 

 Prime specimens of the former, followed by others known as 

 lemmas, byoks, boos, blacks, etc. 



To preserve wild feathers from risk of injury, hunters and 

 waders, during their rough and prolonged journeys in the 

 interior of South Africa, used at one time to insert each 

 valuable plume into a hollow reed. The end of the quill was 

 nrst introduced, and by repeated tapping the whole feather 

 gradually disappeared, the webs lying upright alongside the 

 shaft. With the ends of such reeds securely sealed' no harm 

 could result. 



There were only 80 tame ostriches in the Cape Colony in 

 J-805, and the feathers exported weighed 17,5221bs., valued 

 at £65,736, the whole of which, except 1201bs., were from 

 wild birds. In 1875 the number domesticated was no less 

 tnan 32,247, and the exports were valued at .£304,933 for 

 4J,J691bs. In 1882 exports reached the highest value they 

 £ave ever yet attained, viz.: £1,093,989 for 253,9541bs., and 



J&Ta o ' When the export was 288 > 568 > valued only at 

 *o46,230, the yield has steadily decreased. The number of 

 domesticated ostriches in the colony is now about 160,000. 

 in twenty years the average price for all South African 

 exports of feathers has fluctuated from 70s. to 110s. per lb. 



-It is evident, then, that the supply has exceeded the demand, 

 wie enormous profits made by the sale of young birds will 

 nev er more be realised, and it is hardly to be expected that 

 reatJiers will ever again be quoted at the old market rates, 

 fiut there should still be substantial recompense to be earned 

 in the country where they are indigenous by an ostrich 

 larmer managing his property with skill and intelligence, and 



