THE OSTRICH. 109 



she will lay her full complement. The hen generally begins the 

 sitting ; she will occasionally sit for one or two days and nights 

 before the cock takes his turn. Now and then, however, the cock 

 will be first to sit ; but, in such a case, he will probably leave 

 the nest for some hours during the day. 



When sitting assumes its regular course, the hen sits from 

 8 or 9 a.m. to about 4 p.m., and the cock from 4 p.m. to about 

 8 or 9 a.m. The bird whose turn it is to be on the nest keeps its 

 seat until the other arrives to relieve it, when they at once change 

 places. Soon after beginning to sit, the cock loses his sexual 

 vigour and inclinations, and ceases his attentions to the hen. 



It is quite incorrect to say that the cock alone sits, or that 

 during the day the eggs are left to the heat of the sun. The 

 cock and hen sit alternately, regularly and steadily, night and 

 day, during the whole period of incubation. Apart from incuba- 

 tion, it is necessary that the eggs should be covered during the 

 day as a protection, in many parts, against small carnivora and 

 monkeys ; against the inclemencies of the weather, such as the 

 frequent and violent hail and rain storms which sweep over the 

 country ; and against the great heat, which in the summer is 

 almost tropical. The heat from the direct rays of the sun 

 striking upon unprotected eggs, when, after incubation, develop- 

 ment has once set in, is so great that it would kill them. Sand 

 thus exposed becomes so hot that even a hardened hand can 

 scarcely endure it. On an average summer's day I tested the 

 heat of the sand, keeping the thermometer in the shade, and 

 found it to be 150° Fahr. The maximum temperature allowed to 

 eggs in an incubator is 104° Fahr., though a few degrees more, if 

 not maintained too long, are not greatly injurious; but if the 

 thermometer stands at 150° Fahr. for some hours daily, chicks will 

 not incubate. However, argument is quite unnecessary ; the hen 

 sits on the eggs every day — of this there is no doubt whatever ; 

 they are not left to the heat of the sun ; if they were, no chicks 

 would ever result ; they are covered by the birds during the 

 whole period of incubation. 



Times of Sitting ivell Apportioned. 

 There are several interesting points connected with the 

 process of sitting. For instance, the time is admirably arranged 



