ON THE OSTRICHES. 225. 
best persons to apply to in furtherance of such an 
object would be Messrs. Thomson Watson & Co Daniel 
Ebden & Co., or Blaine Brothers & Co., all 'of Port 
Elizabeth. These merchants have large business 
transactions with the traders in the interior, and 
doubtless, would be willing to carry out the wishes 
of any one communicating with them on the subject. 
" It will afford me much gratification at any time to- 
give persons who take an interest in the subject every 
information m my power in furtherance of this novel 
but important industry. 
" I remain, your obedient servant, 
" Wa H E 
"July 27th, 1872." ' " 
In the foregoing letter the weight of feathers, 
which one bird would yield must be very much 
exaggerated, unless small and comparatively worthless 
feathers were taken. Some of the Wimmera grown 
feathers he refers to were of the first crop taken from 
young native birds, and the plumage had not acquired 
the richness and fulness of those from the mature 
ostrich. Notwithstanding this writer's objection to 
the use of the incubator, the account given of its 
success at Hilton, compared with the slow rate of 
increase of the birds when left to hatch their ego-s in 
the natural way on the Wimmera, shows clearl/that 
its use would be advantageous if a large increase be 
desired. 
I cannot say that I am very sanguine as to ostrich 
culture proving a successful or remunerative pursuit 
There is however little difficulty in keeping these birds 
within enclosures, as a two-rail fence will generally prove 
