The Ostrich Begins To Lay Her Eggs Before She Has Fixed On A Spot For A Nest,
Which Is Only A Hollow A Few Inches Deep In The Sand, And About A Yard
In Diameter.
Solitary eggs, named by the Bechuanas "lesetla", are thus found
lying forsaken all over the country, and become a
Prey to the jackal.
She seems averse to risking a spot for a nest, and often lays her eggs
in that of another ostrich, so that as many as forty-five have been found
in one nest. Some eggs contain small concretions of the matter
which forms the shell, as occurs also in the egg of the common fowl:
this has given rise to the idea of stones in the eggs. Both male and female
assist in the incubations; but the numbers of females being always greatest,
it is probable that cases occur in which the females have the entire charge.
Several eggs lie out of the nest, and are thought to be intended
as food for the first of the newly-hatched brood till the rest come out
and enable the whole to start in quest of food. I have several times seen
newly-hatched young in charge of the cock, who made a very good attempt
at appearing lame in the plover fashion, in order to draw off
the attention of pursuers. The young squat down and remain immovable
when too small to run far, but attain a wonderful degree of speed
when about the size of common fowls.
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