The Big Bird

An ordinary ostricli Bgg is alleged to oontain as much nn-.it as twentyfmir hen'a egga. In the procesa of artificial incubation the youus ehlck can 1),. board pieking ,-,„,1 tapping at lts Bhell on about the fortieth da y. On flnding its way out of the shelL, the chick sits down on its haunchea and stares about the earth and up at the sky, as much as to s.iy, "What does dt all mean?" And ' although lt soon begins to hobble about a little, at least two days must elapae before it gets any definite idea of the oonnectlon of things. On about the tliird day it seems to feel the need of fbod. In the course of a few days the ostrich chlck is quite as large as an ordinary hen, but lt is lnfinitely prettier. lts lovely eyes, deep, dark and soft; its shapely bill; its broad Intelligent crown and beautlful oeck, both of rich brown, elogantly mottled; and its close, thick coat of brownishyellow down hid on the back and sides with spangles of porcupine-like qviills, Kive it a unique appearance among Chickens. The cliicUs are put toStether under the care of a herd boy, and allowed to roam about during the day, and in the evenlng are brought indoors and put tato a box Urttered with dry straw and covered over with a blanket. Under thla operation the little thinga whlmper and exprees their fëeUngs, whether of gratitude or proteetation, witli i low piping trill; but they are bood off to sleep. A pecullarlty of young ostriches, nol the least interesting and amusing, la thelr waltzlng proollvlty. )u being let out In the morning the young troop dart off one aiter another; then stopping auddenly they give tliemselves a wiiirl about, and proceedlng a few paces, repeat the revolution, ach time sllghtly ducking their heads, a gesturc which glves a certain groeeque graoe to the movement. When i troup are performing togetlcr their movement s are frequontly synchronous, and their noddi&ga in perfect hm', - a comical caricature on the movements of the human dance. Someimes a bird will make five or six ïyratioms in succession, but otliers onv swerve fantastically from side to de. with wings üaunting as they go, k a romping girl's dress. They ometimes keep the dance up for an our or more, cajreerlng first to one ide of the field and then to the other.