AN OSTRICH RACE IN CALIFORNIA.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XXI, Issue 6365, 29 March 1889, Page 2

AN OSTRICH RACE IN CALIFORNIA.

At a command from the Doctor (says a Los Angelos letter in the Philadelphia Press) one of the Madrasese keepers opened the doors of one of the pens, and in response to the Doctor's call two superb ostriches came running to him. After caressing the gentle creatures for a few moments he showed them a handful of figs of which they were extremely fond, Two of his men then restrained the birds by placing nooses about their legs, until he and myself had walked to the other end of the course. Then at a signal from the Doctor the birds were released and the race began. It was a rare sight. Ornithologists tell us that the stride of the ostrich when feeding

from 20mto22in; when walking,.bu not feeding, 26in; and when terrifie, from lljjft to lift. It seemed to me that in this race for a handful of figs from their master these gigantic bircU covered the last-named distance a every stride. Like the wind the came, their great necks stretche, forward and upward to then' utmos length; their wings, like arms working with a motion similar te' that made by their legs, and filling, the air with a mighty sound like the rushing of a whirlpool. Nearer and nearer they came, their speed increasing with every moment, till I was terrified least they should run us down, ieeling certain that we could not withstand the I shock. They kept very well abreast for, uearly half the distance, and then one began to forge ahead. He steadily in creased his lead to within a few' feet of us, when he turned his head, and seeing that his competitor was considerably in the rear, he slackened his pace, and jogging up to the Doctor, received his reward in figs and caresses.