108 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



Nidiftcation, Sexual Relations, and Parental Habits. 



Greater misconception seems to prevail with regard to the 

 nidification, sexual relations, and parental habits of the Ostrich 

 than upon any other really important points connected with it. 



The best comment upon the various authorities will perhaps 

 be a simple statement of what I know to be the facts. 



The Nest. 



As the breeding season approaches, a cock and hen will pair, 

 and, having selected a site congenial to their inclinations, proceed 

 to make a nest. I believe that in all cases, in the first instance, 

 one cock and one hen, having paired, select the site and make 

 the nest. 



In a camp, no matter how large, where there are many birds 

 and many nests, choice of position is restricted. As they like to 

 have their nests far apart, it is especially difficult for a pair to 

 select a spot which shall escape the observation of other birds. 

 This probably accounts for the fact that many sites are unwisely 

 chosen. Generally a stony or sandy rise, however slight, is 

 selected, often beside and partly sheltered by a small bush. The 

 sites being selected, each cock is supreme over all other cocks 

 at his nest and in its immediate neighbourhood. 



The nest is simply a hollow depression, more or less deep 

 according to the nature of the soil. It is made by the pair 

 together. The cock goes down on to his breast, scraping or 

 kicking the sand out backwards with his feet, cutting the earth 

 with his long and powerful nails. The hen stands by, often 

 fluttering and clicking her wings, and helps by picking up the 

 sand with her beak, and dropping it irregularly near the edge of 

 the growing depression. 



Laying and Sitting. 

 When satisfied with their work (and they are easily satisfied, 

 often too easily) the hen begins to lay an egg in the nest, every 

 other day. During the laying period the nest is often un- 

 attended, and is not slept on at night. A nest in which only one 

 hen is laying contains on the average about fifteen eggs ; but she 

 often begins to sit before she has laid her full complement. 

 Sometimes she will lay four or five after beginning to sit, though 

 not often so many ; sometimes only one or two ; while sometimes 





