Ostrich-farming.---The rearing of ostriches has assumed considerable importance, notably in our S. African colonies. The natural home of the bird is there found in the " karroo " plains and sweet grass fiats of the interior, and though it sometimes resorts to the long sour-grass of the coast, it will not thrive on the " strand veldt," or sour-grass of the sandstone ridges. This is explained by the fact that alkalies are essential to the health of the bird and the proper development of its feathers; and where care is taken to supply this deficiency, in the shape of food, less difficulty will be found in selecting a site for the farm. The country must be open, and the soil should be sandy in places. Opinions vary as to whether the birds should he confined in a narrow area, and fed by haud ; or be allowed to run free over a large space, and pick up their own living.. The latter plan seems to pro duce feathers of the best appearance. The paddocks must be well fenced with loose stone walls, or post and wire fencing, about 4 ft. high. The number of birds allowed on an acre may vary from 30 birds on 8 acres, to 23 birds on 500 acres, according to the nature of the land, and the amount of food artificially supplied. Shed accommodation must be provided, for the birds to seek shelter in by night or during storms, and over-crowding must be carefully avoided. The birds require water, and aro fond of bathing during the hottest season. In the matter of food, considerable latitude is observed. For young birds, lucerne, thistles, herbs, and indigenous grasses suffice; as the season advances, those may be supplemented by fruit and grain (barley, maize, &c.). A mature bird will require 20 lb. of lucerne, or 3 lb. of grain, daily. If necessary, lime must be supplied, in the form of bones, besides which, a little sulphur and salt should be provided.
The birds are paired at the age of 5 years, one male being coupled with one or two females. Separate pens are provided for this purpose. Nidification begins in July. Laying commences in August, and lasts for about 6 weeks, the eggs numbering 15-20 from each hen. If not removed for artificial incubation, the birds take turns in sitting on them, till they are hatched, in October. On taking away the young brood, the hen will lay again about December, but is then not nearly so prolific. It is seldom that the birds are allowed to hatch out their brood, much better results being obtained by the use of artificial incubators. The form of incubator most commonly employed is that devised by A. Douglass, of Hilton. It consists of a deal box, about 3 ft. square, open above, and resting upon a copper or zinc pan, 3 in. deep, and of the same area as the box. This pan con tains hot water, the vapour of which ascends through suitable openings into the box above. The temperature of the water is maintained by an oil lamp burning beneath a portion of the pan, separated by a wall from the incubating room, to avoid the ill effects of the fumes upon the young chicks. The heat is constantly regulated by means of thermometers : the temperature of the box should be 39° (102° F.) when it receives the eggs; after 2 weeks, it is reduced to 37f° (100° F.);
and, in 2 weeks more, to 36° (98° F.). Incubation lasts for 42 days. The eggs are turned aud aired, by opening the box and removing the blanket covering once or twice daily. A fortnight before the incubation is finished, the eggs are examined against the light, to ascertain how soon the hatching may take place ; and a week later, those containing weak chicks are carefully punctured near the small end, to assist the occupants in effecting their escape. The proportion of failures should not exceed 1 in l2; in natural hatching, it amounts to 4 in 20. Another good reason for adopting artificial incubators is that the birds' feathers are iu primest condition at the time of incubation, and that many of them get. spoilt during the time when the birds are sitting. As soon as hatched, the chicks should be kept in a warm but well-ventilated coop, which may be con structed of a box, containing a lot of chenille, or other warm material, hanging from the roof. They are fed at first on bread-crumbs, bran, and water ; on the fourth day, they may be let out during the day into a little enclosure made around the incubator, and may then have grain, bread, and green vegetables. They are taken in at night. Until 3 mouths old, mortality is great among them ; and even after that age, many break their legs, and have to be killed.
The bird yields its first plumes at the age of 8 months, and condone° to do so at intervals of 8 months throughout its life, which varies, according to different authorities, from 8 to 100 years, but may probably average 25-35 years. The first feathers arc small, and of little value. The gathering of the plumes is a delicate operation, performed either by plucking them out bodily, or by severing them near the base, by moans of a sharp knife. The former plan was long the only one, and gives the greater weight of feather ; but it is now generally superseded by the latter, as it often produces a kind of irritation fever in the birds. When cutting is adopted, the stumps require pulling out about a month or 6 weeks later, unless they have already been shed naturally. Neither method appears to cause the bird any appreciable pain. The operation is performed while the birds are placed singly in a padded crib, or are so densely packed as to leave no room for kicking.
Ostrich-farming ie heing experimentally undertaken by the Acclimatization Society of Victoria, on the Wimmera and en the Murray Downs, aud has quite recently been instituted in South Australia. Many circumstances have had an unfavourable influence upon the results attained, so that these have not hitherto been encouraging ; nevertheless, the industry is being persevered in, and a parcel of the feathers sent to the London market were pronounced better than any from the Cape. Still more recently it is stated that African ostriches have been introduced into the Banda Oriental and the Argentine Republic ; it is intended to keep the breed quite distinct from the native Rhea, as crossing them produces a sterile race with inferior plumes.