752 



ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 



MALE AFRICAN OSTRICH. 

 Potographed in the Zoological Park in the winter of 1910. 



ACCLIMATIZING THE OSTRICH. 



IT is an interesting fact that a number of birds 

 indigenous to tropical climates are able to en- 

 dure our severe winters, without apparent dis- 

 comfort to themselves, and certainly with no ill 

 effect on their constitutions. Several specimens of 

 the Audubon caracara, {Polyborus cheriway), of 

 northern South America and Mexico, have lived 

 for years in the out-door cages of the Large 

 Bird-House of the Zoological Park, and they 

 seem to improve in health and vigor with each 

 season. Practically all of the species of cocka- 

 toos and parrakeets so plentiful in Australia 

 are entirely indifferent to cold. An escaped 

 Amazon parrot entered the Zoological Park one 

 fall, and stayed until spring, feeding on what 

 buds and nuts it could find, only to fall a vic- 

 tim to the gun of a misguided marksman. 



It is true, also, that those birds which are able 

 to live without artificial heat during cold 

 weather, are much healthier and generally of 

 finer plumage than others that are fully housed. 

 For this, and other reasons, experiments on the 

 endurance of various species in captivity always 

 are of interest and value to the aviculturist. It 

 seems probable that there are many species, or- 

 dinarily short-lived and delicate, which would 

 survive much longer if kept at a lower tempera- 

 ture than is customary. 



In our climate the ostrich is not a long-lived 

 creature. Many of its troubles can be traced to 

 the effect of draughts, which the birds seem un- 



able to withstand. This difficulty, coupled with 

 the lack of exercise incident to the close confine- 

 ment of winter quarters, makes that season a 

 very trying one for the bird and its keepers. 



In the fall of 1909 it was determined to learn 

 what effect exposure to cold and snow would 

 have on the birds. Accordingly, an unusually 

 vigorous pair of young North African Ostriches, 

 (Strnlliio camelus"), was secured and placed in 

 a large corral at the south end of the Ostrich 

 House. 



The first indoor apartment to which the birds 

 had access was enclosed solidly by a wooden 

 casing, a glass front being installed for the 

 benefit of visitors. This permitted leaving open 

 the outside door, without causing a lowering of 

 the general temperature of the house. The floor 

 of the cage was strewn with peat moss, for dry- 

 ness, and a very low degree of heat was derived 

 from the two warm-water pipes which were in- 

 cluded within the apartment. 



As fall drew on the birds gradually began to 

 moult. They were remarkably healthy, and 

 really seemed to enjoy the clear, cold weather, 

 often racing madly about the liberal confines of 

 their paddock, and never once refusing their full 

 supply of food. As the days grew colder, early 

 in October it became necessary to confine the 

 other inmates of the Ostrich House, and provide 

 the customary warmth for them. Snow came, 

 and in no small quantities. The winter of 

 1909-10 was characterized by an unusual num- 

 ber of blizzards and prolonged storms. This 

 inclemency, however, in no way disturbed the 

 serenity of the ostriches; they seemed actually 

 to enjoy the sensation of rolling and kicking in 

 the drifted snow. 



It was feared that while the birds might do 

 will enough during the dry weather of mid- 

 winter, the cold, sleety rains of late winter and 

 early spring, so dangerous to many birds and 

 mammals, might cause disaster. This, how- 

 ever, was not the case, for no amount of drench- 

 ing seemed to affect in the slightest degree the 

 sturdy hardihood of the ostriches. 



It is an interesting fact that the birds were 

 allowed full liberty during the most severe 

 weather. As stated previously, the shelter cage 

 was very slightly warmed, but the outside door 

 was always open, causing the temperature to 

 remain constantly at a low point. 



With the approach of warm, summer weather, 

 the male began to develop the choleric temper 

 for which his race is noted. The female, al- 

 ways gentle and docile, was persecuted so per- 

 sistently that it was found necessary to remove 

 her to another corral. Thus it came about that 



