STRUTHIOUS BIRDS 279 



thought to be an organ of sound during the 

 breeding season, whilst some writers have suggested 

 that by filling this pouch with air the bird can 

 better keep its head above water when swimming, 

 for it is well known that the Emus and the Rheas 

 take readily to the water and swim with apparent 

 ease. The Emu, next to the Ostrich, is the largest 

 of surviving birds. Its haunts are open country, 

 expanding plains, and scrub-clothed wastes. It is 

 capable of running with amazing speed, and 

 when brought to bay defends itself by dealing 

 kicks of great rapidity and power. The Emu 

 subsists upon roots of various kinds, herbage, 

 fruits and berries. It is more or less gregarious, 

 and usually met with in small parties. The Emu 

 is probably polygamous. The nest is a big hollow 

 in the ground scratched out by the bird, in which 

 are deposited from nine to a dozen eggs, light or 

 dark bluish green in colour. These eggs are in 

 great request for various ornamental purposes. 

 The cock bird incubates them, the period being 

 ten or eleven weeks. It is to be hoped that our 

 Australian kinsmen will see that the Emu, their 

 national bird, is saved from the extermination 

 which threatens it. This, indeed, should be a 

 comparatively easy task. 



