THREE GREAT BIRDS 187 



quantity of vegetables of all or any kind he 

 can get, oranges, apples, pears, or any other 

 fruit, not to speak of such objects as iron 

 nails, handles of doors, or similar little things. 



An ostrich has been known to swallow even 

 a lighted pipe taken from an unwary visitor, 

 a tennis ball, all sorts and kinds of jewelry; 

 one even had a try at a small sunshade. All 

 ostriches are very fond of water and are fre- 

 quent bathers. 



Mr. J. S. Vallely, of the Cawston Farm, 

 sends me a few unique details about the os- 

 trich, which, from one who lives constantly 

 with these birds and studies them from every 

 point of view, I consider doubly interesting. 

 He says: 



"The ostrich is a bird of very limited in- 

 telligence, and whatever it does seems to be 

 from instinct more than from any thought 

 it takes about the matter. The male bird is 

 very pugnacious in the breeding season and 

 may be quite dangerous if not closely watched 

 at such times, although, when the eggs hatch 

 out, the parents do not seem to take any spe- 



