THE SOCIETY’S OSTRICHES. 
167 
The immediate result of this novel process promised 
well, and a good many young birds were hatched But 
unfortunately, one by one the growing chicks were attacked 
by the disease which proves so fatal at the Cape, and 
which has here hitherto, as will be seen, also been the 
main obstacle in the successful breeding of this valuable 
and interesting bird. 
The young chick exhibits the first symptoms of illness 
by appearing unsteady on its feet, and this gradually 
increases until at length it is unable to stand still, and 
must keep moving rapidly about, or fall to the ground. 
The appetite all the time and until near the end remains 
as good as ever. At length the bird, worn to a skeleton 
by constant running, is unable to rise, and death then soon 
follows. 
At the Cape the disease is said to be blood poisoning, 
and is thought to be a result of too close herding and 
housing at night, and, these causes being avoided as far as 
possible, they now suffer but little. Here it has proved 
even more fatal and difficult to deal with, for the young 
birds have fallen victims to it although reared entirely by 
their mothers and kept in an open paddock. 
On the Wimmera, too, under Sir Samuel (then Mr.) 
Wilson’s care, where the birds were not confined at all, we 
believe the disease was equally, if not more, destructive. 
In nearly every case here the bird has died after being 
once attacked, and in not a single instance has recovered 
its proper health. Two of the flock now afflicted with the 
disease for nearly eighteen months have not lately appeared 
any worse, and are even becoming a little steadier on their 
legs, and gaining better condition of body, though very 
much undersized ; but complete recovery cannot be 
expected, though they may live and hobble about in their 
peculiar manner for years to come. 
