256 BEASTS AND MEN 
far from having been injured by exposure to the cold, they 
appear rather to have improved with the treatment. A thicker 
growth of feathers than normal appeared in response to the 
new environment. 
It is some years ago now since I paid my third visit to 
the ostrich-farm at Nizza; and it was after inspecting the 
contrivances kept there for rearing the chicks that I took 
the decision to establish an ostrich-farm at Stellingen. It 
so happened that an assistant, who was engaged at Nizza, 
asked me in the course of my visit if I could do anything to 
help him towards attaining a position of greater independ- 
ence. Great was his surprise when I replied that I had de- 
termined to establish for myself an ostrich-farm at Stellingen, 
and should be happy to engage him as manager. He was 
at first so doubtful as to the possibility of the success of such 
an experiment, that he hesitated to accept the proffered post. 
The climate of Stellingen was bad; ostriches could only 
flourish in climates that were dry and sunny ; if bad weather 
were suddenly to supervene, he knew from experience that 
the ostriches would quickly be killed. I was well aware, 
however, that Mr. Millen, for that was his name, had “been 
very successful in hatching out chickens in incubators, and | 
soon dispelled his apprehensions and engaged him as man- 
ager of my prospective ostrich-farm. : 
A suitable stretch of land (covering an area of more than 
six acres) lay at my disposal for the purpose; and in the 
summer of 1908 we commenced the work of laying it out in 
accordance with the plans which I proceeded to devise with 
the help of my son and Mr. Millen. On the 21st June, 
1909, the scheme had so far advanced that we were able 
to take round the German Empress: showing her the first 
ostrich-farm ever established in the north, as also a young 
chick just emerged from the egg. Between 20th June and 
6th September, 1909, on which date these lines are. being 
written, we have been successful in hatching out no fewer 
than thirteen African and one American ostriches. These 
