IN CAPTIVITY IN LOWER BENGAL. 349 



perfectly dry ; it may be built of brick-on-edge or of flagstone and joints 

 s well cemented ; a thick layer of coarse sand should be spread over it, 

 otherwise sitting on hard bare floor will hurt the bird ; besides, it keeps 

 the place dry. The sand should be frequently changed, especially during 

 the wet weather ; during the winter and summer the same sand may be 

 used for several times after being exposed to the sun on each occasion ; 

 straw bedding should be avoided; the larger the ground for the 

 promenade, the better. For practical purposes of exhibition, an enclosure 

 80 feet long and 50 feet broad, with alight iron fencing about 5 feet high, 

 is enough for a pair of birds ; the drainage of the ground should be perfect. 

 A gravel path, some 4 feet broad, may be laid all round the fence 

 inside, as the ostrich walks much alongside it ; thick patches of sand 

 here and there will also be much appreciated ; the ground should be 

 kept scrupulously clean of broken glass, broken bits of shells, old nails 

 and such other things. Accommodation for an ostrich is not complete 

 without a tank or pond where it can thoroughly enjoy bathing when it 

 likes. It may be sometimes necessary to separate a pair, or there may 

 be birds of unequal temper requiring separate lodgment. Such contin- 

 gencies should always be anticipated in providing permanent habita- 

 tion. Crows are a perpetual source of annoyance to ostriches. They peck 

 the birds whenever they are out, causing wounds on the back, and some- 

 times rendering it necessary to keep them in-doors for days together 

 until the sore heals. Unless shut out by wire-netting and other expedients, 

 they do not hesitate to attack the ostriches in-doors. The matter is not 

 so serious during the spring and summer, as the birds can be kept out 

 at night, but during the winter it is so. The only effectual way of 

 preventing this state of things is to cover the enclosure over and all 

 round with wire-netting. This is expensive. Boys with bow and pellets 

 to shoot the crows are sometimes employed, and for a time the annoyance 

 ceases ; but as soon as the boys become negligent, the crows begin to 

 assert themselves again. 



Food. — In their wild state ostriches are omnivorous, feeding on 

 seeds, fruits, leaves, berries, beetles, locusts, frogs — in fact whatever 

 comes in their way, taking in quantities of sand, stones, and other hard 

 substances to help the digestion. In captivity their food consists of 

 broken biscuits, Indian-corn, oats, and quantities of vegetables ; a pound 

 of beef or mutton meat each may be allowed once a week during the 

 winter and rains. Some ostriches do not at all care for meat, others do. 

 Although they may be always seen picking grass for themselves, fresh- 

 cut grass should now and then be supplied ; there should be a good supply 

 of small stones and broken bricks in the enclosure for the purpose indi- 

 cated above. 



Breeding. — Ostriches have repeatedly laid in this garden, but never 

 have they yet succeeded in hatching out any young. 



Transport. — A narrow box-cage should be preferred to a broad one 

 enabling the bird to turn round. In providing food for the journey, 

 sand, grit, and small stones should not be forgotten. 



Treatment in sickness. 



Nothing positively is known about their ailments. There have been 

 deaths of course, and consequently diseases also; but what they were 



