222 
REPORT 
the oompact and secure manner in which the 
majority of the stations here are fenced in ; it is an 
erroneous idea that because the ostrich is an unusually 
long-legged bird, that it would require a very high 
fence to keep it in bounds ; such is not the case, the 
substantial wire-fencing that I have seen at most well- 
kept stations, is, in my opinion, quite high enough. 
An ostrich in motion does not rise upon the wing ; he 
skims, as it were, along the surface of the ground, and 
if he meets with any obstacle, such as a fence, he will 
skirt along it, but never attempt to cross it ; although 
he will cross a creek, the two banks of which are nearly 
on a level with each other, by flying. The pace of an 
ostrich in full speed, going before the wind, with his 
feathers standing erect, is killing ; and I never saw the 
horse, the rider of which could with truth say that he 
ran his game down fairly. The ostrich is a solitary 
bird, and of lonely shy habits ; ostriches are never found 
in large troops like other game, seldom more than six 
are seen together, and they run more frequently in 
pairs or singly. Their sense of smell is very acute, as 
well as their sight, and their powers of digestion are 
truly astonishing ; I have seen a tame one snatch a 
bunch of keys attached to a steel ring from a man, and 
swallow them with the greatest gusto, and I have 
given young birds, when about the size of turkeys, a 
few small nails (tacks) occasionally, which they seemed 
to relish amazingly, and would follow me about for 
more, so that it would appear essential for them. Sir 
Henry Barkly, in his letters, recommends an incubator, 
but it appears to me that this method would not be 
required here for this reason, if you have the bird to 
lay the eggs, why not let them finish their work ? 
