THE OSTRICH. 115 



Parents and Chicks. 



When defending the nest the cock carries himself splendidly, 

 with erect straight neck, his attitude being most imposing and 

 defiant. But when the hen (or the cock) is advancing to protect 

 the chicks, she comes with a rapid, shuffling stride, hissing 

 violently, with wings fluttering at right angles to the body, flat 

 to the front, and almost touching the ground. Often both 

 cock and hen will run away with the chicks, but if the enemy 

 is close the chicks, especially when very young, will scatter in 

 all directions, and squat separately. Even when older they will 

 squat, if hard pressed. Sometimes, to mislead the pursuer, the 

 parents will feign injury, gradually leading him away from the 

 little chicks. I have seen a cock fall, as if with a broken leg, 

 several times within a couple of hundred yards. 



When startled the parents emit a short sound of one note, 

 which is a signal of alarm. When the danger is past the chicks 

 (which when squatting lie perfectly still, blending closely with the 

 ground, and are most difficult to discover) arise, and run about 

 in all directions, calling with their penetrating tremulous cry. 

 The old birds return to the neighbourhood where the little 

 ones scattered, and gather them together again. They do not 

 call, but their height, and their keen sight and hearing, enable 

 them readily to find the crying, moving specks. The chicks, 

 too, are very quick at seeing and running to their parents. 



The parents know their own chicks, except when very small, 

 and will kick and peck at others, often killing them. Adult non- 

 breeding birds also do this, as do large chicks to very small ones. 



Is the Ostrich Polygamous ? 



There seems to be no diversity of opinion as to the polygamy 

 of the Ostrich. It is almost entirely on the fact (an incon- 

 testable one), that several hens frequently lay in one and the 

 same nest, that the argument for polygamy is based. 



Let us examine this fact, and endeavour to ascertain what it 

 implies. 



One cock and one hen (not one cock and several hens) having 

 paired, select a spot, and together make the nest. When the spot 

 is well selected, in some secluded place not easily discovered, and 



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