OSTRICH FARMING. 
105 
satisfied with their success. It is astonishing what 
slight, causes will cause the failure of eggs ; a thunder- 
storm has been known to destroy them ; even the rough 
opening of the drawer containing the eggs will shake 
and injure them, and too great or too little heat proves 
fatal to the chicks. By this plan, one male to three 
females is sufficient ; in a natural state of course there 
must he an equal number, as both sit alternately. I 
saw large herds of ostriches near Colesberg, 150 in a 
flock at least, herded by only two men on horseback 
with long whips on open flats. I presume mealies 
tempted them to the homestead in the evening, where 
they remained on the ‘reef’ until the next morning. 
I enclose a Farm of Nov. 10, 1870, with Thick’s 
letter. 
“ W. G. Atherstone.” 
STILLWELL AND 
KNIGHT, PRINTERS, MELBOURNE* 
