Jogging round the world

Would you like to try a race with this ostrich? I am afraid you would be beaten, for this is a famous trotter, Oliver W., who has made a record for great speed. It looks strange to see an ostrich harnessed into a racing gig, doesn’t it? But you know they can go very rapidly, and easily run faster than horses. Do you see all the ostriches in the picture on the other side of the fence? This is a farm in Jacksonville, Florida, where ostriches are raised. You know so many people want ostrich plumes that it takes a great many to supply them all, and there are ostrich farms in Florida and California, as well as in Mexico and other countries. The first plumes are cut from the birds when they are about six or seven months old, and then about twice a year until they are very old. Ostriches are queer-looking birds, aren’t they? See Oliver W.’s long neck, and his feet with only two toes, the outside one having no claw. It is wise to keep away from those feet, for ostriches sometimes kick, and very powerfully, too. They are strange birds and do many funny things; so a visit to an ostrich farm is very entertaining. You have heard, haven’t you, how they hide their heads in the sand and think no one can see them? When the Arabs of the desert want to catch a wild ostrich they find it quite easy, for the birds are very apt to run around in circles instead of straight ahead, so the horses soon catch up with them.