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Guinea Fowl Feather
Guinea Fowl Feather
Phasianidae
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Date Undated Origin Sneeuberg, Karoo Size 215mm x 50mm Acquired April 2021 From Origin Price Free
Calvinia
“Ostrich (Struthio camelus). Indigenous bird connected with an important industry. Of the five local varieties, the predominant one is the Southern Ostrich. From the earliest days of white settlement, ostriches were hunted for their plumes, for the European market. By 1860 the number had been so much reduced, despite their natural fleetness of foot, that several farmers attempted their domestication. The earliest efforts were recorded about 1853. In 1865 80 birds were in captivity and the exports came to £17,522 lb., worth 65,736. From then on the industry grew rapidly, being concentrated in the vicinity of Graaff-Reinet and the Eastern Province. Profits were immense and prices rose until over £1,000 was paid for a pair of breeding birds. The first great boom began in 1880 and lasted until about 1885. An even greater one set in from 1910 to 1913, when from 746,736 birds, nearly all in the Cape, some £ 3,000,000 worth of feathers were exported. The onset of World War I caused a crash, both in prices and production, from which the industry has never recovered. Most of the birds were slaughtered to produce leather instead of feathers. In recent times there has been a gradual revival, but there are only about 50,000 birds left to produce less than 100,000 lb. of feathers yearly. Nearly all of these birds are in the Oudtshoorn district. The development of the industry has been largely responsible for the intensive farming practice in this part of the world. The ostrich is peculiar in that its flight apparatus (wings, keeled breastbone and muscles) IS SO RUDIMENTARY AS ALMOST TO HAVE DISAPEARED. The breastbone, for example, is flat, unlike that of such other birds as flightless pigeons and parrots. To compensate, the ostrich has developed a speed and strength adequate for wild South African life. Feathers are drawn only from the males. A few wild birds survive in the Kalahari and Bushveld. See BIRDS” (Rosenthal 1967:400-401).
“Calvinia. Town in North-Western Cape Province at the foot of the Hantam mountains. Founded in 1851 to commemorate John Calvin, the great reformer. Important sheep district. Wheat is grown near the Zak River. Population: 5,189, including 1,860 Whites” (Rosenthal 1967:92).
