260 BEASTS AND MEN 
I used to find considerable difficulty in meeting this demand. 
Importation is not only difficult but extremely expensive 
on account of the large mortality among the birds during 
transit. The demand has been especially keen during the 
last four years, in the course of which time I have sold 
more birds than during the whole previous existence of my 
frm. I felt therefore under great pressure to set up an 
establishment at which I could breed the animals myself. 
Furthermore, I found that many of the ostriches bred in 
foreign ostrich-farms were very poorly developed and in a 
degenerate condition; and I was convinced that this arose 
from inadequate care in the selection of breeding animals. 
The point which is especially apt to be neglected is the neces- 
sity for the infusion of fresh blood from time to time, thus 
securing, not only a stronger offspring but a better quality 
of feathers. Keeping this requirement in mind, I have 
stocked my farm with over 100 individuals belonging to 
the five finest varieties of African ostriches in existence. 
From among these I select only the best for breeding 
purposes. Besides breeding the pure races, I hope to 
cross the different varieties with each other so as to secure 
as wide a range of variation as possible in the progeny. 
My example has inspired many people, both in Germany and 
Austria, to make inquiries respecting the management of 
ostrich-farms. But it will take at least three years before 
one can tell with certainty the practical outcome of the experi- 
ments now being conducted ; and, until that time has expired, 
I should not encourage any one to enter upon ostrich-farming 
in our climate from a purely business point of view. If my 
own enterprise has already turned out to be profitable for me, 
it does not follow that it would be found profitable also by 
others; and I am not yet ina position to say what amount 
of risk attaches to such undertakings. My chances, however, 
are certainly better than those of anybody else. In the first 
place, I am able to take as much as £1,200 year in entrance 
fees for the inspection of the ostrich-farm. In the second 
