THE OSTIUCH. 101 



low condition in the winter. It also varies in individual birds, 

 and with their condition, and becomes pale during the period of 

 sitting. During the non-breeding season the colouration, more or 

 less faded, is nearly always confined to the scales of the tarsi ; 

 but in all cocks that " come on " during the breeding season it is 

 seldom, if ever, so confined, the tarsi themselves, the toes, and 

 the beak, to a greater or less extent, also becoming affected. 

 Some cocks are then most brilliantly coloured ; not only do the 

 toes and the whole of the tarsi become a brilliant crimson, but 

 the upper part of the leg (called by the Cape Ostrich farmers the 

 "thigh") for half its length, nearly the whole of the head, 

 especially the beak, ears, and around the eyes, are of the same 

 gaudy tint. A vicious cock in full plumage is then a beautiful 

 and imposing creature ; the glittering glossy black is strikingly 

 contrasted with the spotless white of his waving plumes, and the 

 bright crimson of his head and legs ; and as, with springy steps, 

 he advances to battle, angrily lashing his wings across his raised 

 body, with tail and neck erect, and flashing eyes, he is not only 

 a beautiful, but a grand, and, to many a man, a terrifying object. 

 No corresponding changes take place in the hen ; neither 

 does she become vicious, except when she has chicks. 



The Egg ; and Size of Ostriches. 



As to the alleged difference in the shell of the eggs of the 

 northern and southern Ostrich, it may be sufficient to remark 

 that the eggs of the southern bird vary frequently and greatly in 

 respect of size, shape, and shell ; some are quite a third larger 

 than others; some are almost spherical, others oblong; and the 

 shells vary from being deeply and thickly pitted to smooth 

 and polished. 



Differences in the sizes of Ostriches are equally marked ; 

 there is no uniformity. Some birds are very much larger than 

 others ; they also differ considerably in shape. 



Only one Species. 



It will thus be seen that all the differences on which the 



arguments for classifying the Ostrich into three species are 



founded, are commonly present among the Ostriches of the Cape 



Colony — that is, of South Africa generally ; for a great many of 



