WHY THE OSTRICH HIDES ITS HEAD

Hokitika Guardian, 14 September 1929, Page 7

WHY THE OSTRICH HIDES ITS HEAD

Among the mimetic resemblances in the plumage of birds, there is one very interesting case that seems to have eceaped the attention of most naturalists —that of the ostrich (writes Professor ii. J. Harvey-Gibson in Chamber’s Journal). A well-known proverbial saying is that which likens human folly in certain circumstances to the behaviour o'f an ostrich making a futile attempt to escape danger by hiding its head in. the sand, forgetful o>f the fact that its entire body remains exposed to view. The philosopher who made this comparison had obviously never closely studied' the bird in its native haunts, for it is by no means the fool its is made but to be. The isolated shrubs scattered over the Ivarroid plains of South Africa are dull grey-green or brown in colour, and present the general appearance of a simple short stem, also greyish-brown in hue ending in a dense mop of short branches. When an ostrich is at rest or on the trot, but scenting no danger, the long white neck is one o'f the most conspicioiis features, however, its habit is to flee to safety among these bushes suddenly stop dead, bend its long neck down between its leg£, as if burying its head in the sand, and then to fluff out its brownish-grey feathers, so that, at a. distance, it is almost impossible to determine which is ostrich and which is bush. This ingenious method , of camouflage was first noted by Lady Crookes, the wife of the distinguished chemist, Sir William Crookes.