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Tuapeka Times, Volume XX, Issue 1385, 10 September 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

Ostrich Peculiarities.— The ostrich is an anomaly; a fond parent at one time, and again devouring its offspring, showing an idiotic gentleness now, and again kicking one of its little ones into kingdom come. It will scan the horizon with the wisdom of an astronomer, and tumble headlong into a muck hole at ite feet. A single wire will keep it in bounds at ordinary times, and a jack rabbit will drive it into a spasm of terror. "There is nothing on earth like it, I do believe, unless it may be a woman trying to cross a crowded city street on a Saturday afternoon. Their way- of showing auger or fear is peculiar. * They squat on their, haunches and stretch out their ungainly necks almost level with the ground, and sway them from side to side, making a strange drumming sound somewhere in their true inwardness. When grown they are the ugliest things on record, and look all leg. They are connoisseurs in metal buttons, vinagrettes, and even hairpins, and will not hesitate to transfer one or more at a gulp from your person to their own castiron stomachs, with a knowing wink of their red eyes ; but it is a game of give and take, * for in retaliation the visitor may make a grab, and many valuable plumes are lost in this way.