ON THE OSTRICHES. 217 
" We have spoken of various enclosures ; there must 
be at Hilton several miles of fencing completed, and 
we saw another mile or more under operation. The 
difficulty in getting sneezewood posts has hindered the 
operation ; but the fence is being put up with occa- 
sional sneezewood, the other more perishable posts to 
be supplemented with sneeze when it can be procured 
There is, in addition to the river running round it, in 
the body of the farm, a good dam, from which the 
water is led by a syphon, which implement or opera- 
tion is no end of a puzzle to the natives, and,, we believe, 
one or two besides. For water to run up a hill is all 
against their notions. 
" We saw the incubator, and in it forty-five eggs in 
the process of hatching. This operation is now* per- 
formed almost to perfection, quite equal to anything 
the parent birds can do themselves, even suppose they 
are unmolested, and escape all kinds of accidents to 
which they are exposed. Out of the forty-five eggs 
we saw, we may safely conclude forty-two would 
produce live and healthy chicks. The result now of 
several batches is for fourteen out of fifteen to be 
hatched. And Mr. Douglass does not see why in fact 
seems pretty sanguine, that he shall presently hatch all 
the eggs placed in the incubator, provided they are 
fertile. And certainly we don't see why not for it is 
all a matter of intelligent knowledge and experience 
" The number of ostriches at Hilton is as follows 
BREEDING BIRDS. 
Males - 9 
Four hens, one pullet - . 5 
