Southern California; . lebirds and teasing them until they kick athim, riding on their backs, and showingoff his pets in various ways. The body of the male bird is glossyblack with plumes of white in the wingsand tail, and the wonder is that anythingso lovely can spring from so ugly a females and young are brown andgray, the latter more or less mottled ; buteven at the most callow age theyhave a mouth like a crocodile — ithardly seems like a beak, so flattened,broad and dull it is. Stand besidethe fence with an orange in yourhand and one of these great birds willcome stepping up to yo
Southern California; . lebirds and teasing them until they kick athim, riding on their backs, and showingoff his pets in various ways. The body of the male bird is glossyblack with plumes of white in the wingsand tail, and the wonder is that anythingso lovely can spring from so ugly a females and young are brown andgray, the latter more or less mottled ; buteven at the most callow age theyhave a mouth like a crocodile — ithardly seems like a beak, so flattened,broad and dull it is. Stand besidethe fence with an orange in yourhand and one of these great birds willcome stepping up to you with aselegant and dainty an air as a finelady in satin about to be presented ata court ball. There is somethingextremely comical about the airsof the creature. Pass over yourorange and you may see it workits way down on the side of theneck, or if there are enoughoranges to spare you may; .;^- see a dozen all slipping down at once. Do notfail to stand at a respect-ful distance, however, forthat great toe is wielded. #W^ by a powerful leg, and is capable of inflicting dangerouawounds. This novel industry of ostrich farming has proved agreat success in Southern California, for the birds thriveand multiply in this genial climate, and besides the saleof the feathers, large numbers of sight-seers daily visitthe farms and contribute to their support. >^
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Keywords: ., bookauthorkeelerch, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookyear1901
