THE SOCIETY’S OSTRICHES. 
171 
a nest, but just dropped on the spot the bird happens to 
be in when the first inclination to lay comes upon her. 
By degrees, as the eggs increase, the place gets worn and 
gradually becomes hollowed out, and presents finally the 
appearance of a formed nest. During incubation, and 
after the young birds are hatched, the male ostrich becomes 
very savage and will furiously attack any man or animal 
approaching near enough to him. He spreads out his 
wings, and these, with the white feathers tipping the ends 
and adorning the tail, he quivers rapidly to and fro, and 
then, with the jet black body mounted on its long legs, 
and the head with its immense brilliant eyes for a centre- 
piece, he walks slowly towards the foe, uttering a low and 
deep guttural sound. On approaching near enough his 
excitement and motions rapidly increase ; he extends his 
long neck, opens his mouth, shakes his wings rapidly up 
and down and presents an appearance enough to terrify 
any living animal. He finally makes a rush at his 
opponent, and if the latter has not before this taken to 
his heels and escaped to the fence he has not a further 
moment to lose, and woe betide the man or dog that this 
ostrich overtakes and strikes with his powerful foot or 
sharp pointed toe. A broken limb, with torn clothes 
and a lacerated body would be the smallest effect of the 
onset. At other seasons the birds may generally be safely 
approached. 
Hitherto the birds, so far from being profitable to us, 
have been the source of a large annual expenditure, with- 
out any equivalent return, and it is only the firm belief of 
being eventually successful with this novel industry, and 
rendering thus a permanent benefit to the country, as well 
as remunerating the society and ourselves for all the past 
loss of time and expense, that induces us still to persevere 
and endeavour to extend the flock. 
