THE EMEU,' 



The Emeu seems to have been . unknown in Europe until the sixteenth century, 

 when the Dutch, on their return from their first voyage to India, brought one from the 

 island of Java. This bird was given them by the reigning prince. For a considerable 

 time it was exhibited at Amsterdam for money ; it was then sold to the Count do Solms, 

 who gave it to the Elector of Cologne ; and bj' him it was presented to the Emperor of 

 Germany. In the course of the ensuing six years, the Dutch merchants shipped two 

 others from the same place, but both of these died on the voyage. In the year 1671, 

 an emeu was sent by the governor of Madagascar to the King of France, which was 

 kept alive for four years in the royal menagerie at Versailles. Since that period these 

 birds have been frequently brought into Europe, and as they bear its climate well, they 

 are to be found in various places. 



The head of the emeu is surmounted with a l)ohy jjrominence, covered with a horny 

 substance ; the skin of the head and the upper part of tlie neck are naked, and tinged 

 with ca;rulean blue and flame-colour ; the bird has pendent wattles, like those of the 

 turkey-cock ; the wings are furnished with some stiff feathcrless quills ; and the nail of 

 the internal toe is much the strongest. " It is," says Cuvicr, "the largest of the birds 

 after the ostrich, from which it differs sufficiently in its anatomy, for it has short intes- 

 tines and small ca'ca, wants the intermediate stomach between the crop and the gizzard, 

 and its cloaca does not exceed that of other birds in proportion." Its height when erect 

 is about five feet. 



Tliis species is characterised by I^csson as " stupid and m.Tssive ;" and he says it feeds 

 on seeds and herbage. Bontius considers that it ought not to be classed among birds, 

 because the wings it has are calculated to aid in running, not in flight. lie states, that 

 when irritated, (lie bird does not rush forwai-d in (lie attack, but (urns {(self dbliciuolv, 



• Cusuuiiui Knioii. 



