118 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



Large Chicks mistaken for Hens. 

 I think that travellers have often mistaken large chicks for 

 hens. Thus, when they see a cock and some half-dozen drab 

 Ostriches together, at a nest or on the veld, they at once 

 class them as cock and hens, and say they are polygamous 

 birds, while it is more than likely that the lot consists of one 

 pair with large chicks. I have often seen a large chick mis- 

 taken for an adult hen by men of considerable experience as 

 Ostrich farmers. Such chicks are not easily distinguished from 

 hens, except at close quarters by an experienced man. Andersson 

 seems to have made this mistake, and even to have supposed that 

 a large chick was an Ostrich of a different species. It must be 

 remembered that Ostriches are some years reaching maturity, 

 often not attaining their complete adult plumage till four years 

 old. If little chicks (another year's brood) accompanied the pair 

 with large chicks, one would be even more likely to draw a false 

 inference. 



Why no Chicks result. 

 When several hens lay in the same nest it frequently happens 

 that two wish to lay at the same time. In this case, as a rule, 

 one will lay in the nest, the other on the bare ground outside. 

 Sometimes, however, two hens may be seen on the nest at once. 

 Presently some of the hens will begin to sit (the cock alone sitting 

 at night). One occupies the nest, the other broody hens lying 

 or standing about close at hand, thus betraying its presence. 

 When she arises, whichever of the other hens is quickest, perhaps 

 a laying hen, takes her place. Under these conditions a great 

 many eggs are broken both before sitting begins and afterwards. 

 The hens do not sit by turns ; there is no plan in their proceedings 

 at all. 



The laying of eggs goes on from day to day by some of the 

 hens, even after others have ceased. The consequence of this is 

 that the same lot of eggs are never in the nest together for more 

 than a few days at a time. (This I have frequently proved by 

 marking the eggs.) Some are rolled out, new ones are laid, or 

 old ones are rolled in, for the nest becomes trampled almost out 

 of shape by the traffic about it. Thus there are no chicks ; 

 the eggs become broken or addled, and the nest is eventually 

 abandoned. Under such conditions it not infrequently happens 



