NESTS AND EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 1059 



dark-green. The granules are slightly lustrous, but as incubation 

 proceeds become much darker and polished, while the interstices become 

 bluer or dingy in shade. Dimensions in inches of a normal clutch of 

 eight eggs : (1) .5-62 x 3-62, (2) 5-56 x 3-62, (3) 5-5 x 3-68, (4) 5-5 x 3-68, 

 (5) 5-5 X 3-62, (6) 5-43 x 3-68, (7) 5-31 x 3-5, (8) 5-06 x 3-31. The eggs 

 in this clutch arc somewhat long ellipses. No. 2 is much lighter 



in colour, caused by the gi-auulations being less or more scattered over 

 the shell (an exception not unfrequently seen in a set, and probably 

 the last laid egg), while No. 8 is noticeably the smallest in the set. 



Another clutch, of eight i-ather small but beautifid eggs, gives 

 average dimensions of o'Oo x 337 inches. A remai-kably rognlar- 



sized set of twelve gives 5"22 x 3'59 inciies, while in a set of thirteen 

 exceedingly dark-gi-een specimens (as explained by reason of the 

 gi-anulations completely covering the lighter coloured part of the shell), 

 the average measiu'ements are 5-16 x 3'66 inches. 



Weight of nine examples of various sizes selected promiscuously 

 when full : — -The smallest weighed 16| ounces, the heaviest 23 A ounces; 

 average of the nine barely 20.J oiuices. (Plate 27.) 



Olixervatiuiis. — It is always a pleasant occupation to read, write, or 

 diffuse information about such a notable and noble creatvu'e as the 

 Emu. The " King of the Australian faima " the bird has been fitly 

 termed. Wliether seen in private reserves, parks, or in the open, the 

 Emu always arrests attention. Even the bushman, who has seen hmi- 

 dreds of Emus in the wilds, will always glance at the bird or remain 

 to admire its handsome eggs. A full-gi'own bird, when erect, stands 

 about 6 feet high. Its coat, at a distance, has more of the appear- 

 ance of hair than feathers, wliich are loose, and spring in pairs from 

 one shaft. Down the back there is a parting, where the hair-like plum- 

 age falls gracefully over on either side. Tlie colour- of the plumage 

 is an obscure gi-eyish-brown. On the head and neck the feathers are 

 short, and so tliinly placed that the purplish colouration of the skin 

 shows through them. The eyes are brownish and the bill black- 

 coloured. Tlie sexes are similar in appearance, but the male may be 

 distinguished by his usually larger size and darker colouration. It must 

 be noticeable how protective is the colouration of the Emu, the greyish 

 coat assimilating to the shade of the dead timber and the bark of the 

 trees where the birds love to roam. 



The young when first hatched are very pretty, being greyish-white, 

 with several longitudinal, broad, black stripes along their bodies. (See 

 illustration.) Stripes on young birds are protective mimicry. 



Considering that the Emu is such an impoi-taut and omamental 

 bird, soon hkely to become scarce, or altogether extinct, as is now the 

 case in Tasmania, it is somewhat remarkable that so little infomiation 

 is published with regard to this giant amongst the feathered tribes. 

 If we wish to augment oiu- knowledge of the habits of this most inte- 

 resting bird, we should do so without loss of time ; because, however 

 the bird may hold its own in the little distiu'bed districts of the 

 interior, it is becoming astonishingly scarce vrithin, say, two hundred 

 miles of the sea-board, and will rapidly become more so, except the 



