THREE GREAT BIRDS 181 



The young ostriches do not eat the first four 

 days, but after that they become ready and 

 somewhat greedy eaters, and grow very fast. 

 They increase in height about a foot or a 

 foot and a half a month for the first six 

 months, and by that time are full grown. 



With many ostriches in captivity, there is 

 great difficulty in many ways during breeding 

 time; some hens do not lay well or, if they 

 lay well, do not make good sitters, and in this 

 manner many valuable settings are lost. But 

 George and Martha had always been noted for 

 their particularly good behavior in this re- 

 spect, and great reliance had been placed upon 

 them ; they were always pointed out to visitors 

 as the best breeders and sitters among the 

 whole farm. 



But on one occasion, when Martha had 

 faithfully laid the requisite number of eggs, 

 for no apparent reason she absolutely refused 

 to sit. And now follows one of the most curi- 

 ous cases on record. "When George saw that 

 his wife was not doing her duty in the way 

 of sitting on the nest, he did all in his power 



