arksman in the same way as
the delim. The ostrich is often waylaid in a similar manner at its
usual drinking-place, a good shot being concealed in a hole, whence
he fires on it. The ostrich drinks nearly every five days when there
is water; otherwise it can do without it for a much longer time.
Nothing but excessive thirst induces it ever to approach a human
habitation, and then it flies as soon as it is satisfied. It has been
observed, that whenever the flashing lightning announces an
approaching storm, it hastens towards the water. Though single birds
may often be shot on these occasions, it is a much less certain sport
than killing them on the nest, and less profitable, as in the latter
case the eggs form no contemptible part of the spoil.

The nest of an ordinary pair contains from twenty-five to thirty eggs.
But it often happens that several couples unite to hatch together: in
this case, they form a great circular cavity, the eldest couple lay
their eggs in the centre, and the others make a regular disposition of
theirs around them. Thus, if there are four younger couples, they
occupy the four angles of a square. When the laying is finished, the
eggs are pushed towards the centre, but not mixed; and when the eldest
delim begins to sit, all the rest take their places where their eggs
have been laid, the females observing similar order. These
associations are found only where the herbage is very plentiful, and
they are understood always to be family groups, the centre couple
being the parents of the rest. The younger birds lay fewer and smaller
eggs--those of one year old, for instance, have only four or five. The
period of incubation is ninety days.

In the case of several couples associated thus in the same nest, the
sportsmen do not attempt to destroy any but the old ones; for if they
were to set about making as many holes as there were ostriches, the
whole company would take fright and decamp. But perhaps it is
determined to leave them all in peaceable possession for the present,
and rather make a prey of the brood when hatched. The watching of the
nests in such cases has led to further observations. The eggs of each
pair are disposed in a heap, always surmounted by a conspicuous one,
which was the first laid, and has a peculiar destination. When the
delim perceives that the moment of hatching has arrived, he breaks the
egg which he judges most matured, and at the same time he bores with
great care a small hole