THE OSTRICH-FARM AT STELLINGEN 263 
place, I sell the feathers direct to the purchasers, without the 
disadvantage of having to pay a commission to English 
middlemen. In the third place, the sale of the birds which 
have been bred brings in an annual sum which is not to be 
despised. ‘These advantages would for the most part not be 
available in any ordinary farm. 
Ostriches begin to breed in their fourth year and the 
nesting and hatching of the young present many peculiarities. 
“Nest” indeed is a somewhat euphemistic term to apply to 
Lee ee 
ax ee] 
i ede 
Just hatched. 
the little hollows in the ground where the eggs are laid. 
This hollow is scraped out by the cock bird with his feet, 
but not infrequently the hen disregards the preparations of 
her consort and deposits the eggs without method anywhere 
on the ground. The cock will then collect the scattered 
eggs, and roll them all together into the hollow which he has 
dug out. When three or four have in this way been brought 
together in the hollow, the hen will of her own accord lay 
the rest of the clutch in the same place. In the wild state, 
