ioCi4 



NESTS AND EGGS OF AVSTRALIAN BINDS. 



arm. The next ring is balanced vice versa ; and should the clutches be 

 large in number and weighty, a third ring in the shape of a collar is 

 placed round the horse's neck. 



The following are the data of .some of the nests I exaniiucd ou the 

 spot : • — • 



1. — 10th June, 1895. Nest placed among dry herbage about a foot 

 high (diiefly Caloccpha/us), three feet from the base of two small trees 

 (one dead). Herbage plucked from round about, mixed with a few of 

 the bird's own feathei-s, and fonned into a bed of about foiu- feet in 

 diameter. Eggs eight in nimibor. 



2. — ^Nest situated six feet from base of mediimi-sized dead tree. 

 Seemed to be a good layer of diy Cahjcrpl/a/uti tramped down iutO' the 

 form of an oval bed, 4 feet long by 2^ feet broad. Eggs, eight. 



3. — lltli June. Nest situated foiu' feet from base pf tree in a com- 

 pai-atively open locality, composed of bark, grass, and herbage, evidently 

 gathered or plucked from close round about by the, sitting bird, there 

 being a cleai- space or ring 1^ feet bi-oad smTouudiug tJie bed, which was 

 oval in shape, 4 feet by 2^- feet in dimensions. Eggs, eight. Sitting bird, 

 after being flushed, was unhappily run down by the dogs. On dissection 

 it proved to be a male. 



4. — 12th June. Nest m a slight hollow in a patch of herbage, 

 chiefly cane-grass, locally so-called, in oj^eu timber. As usual, the 

 gi'ass was cleared up immediately round about and fonned into a good 

 bed 5 feet long by 3 feet broad ?ud about 2 inches in thickness. Eggs 

 again eight. This nest, fiom which I flushed the bird, was only fifty 

 yards from a frequently used buggy track. 



5. — Nest placed vinder small dead tree, with some saplings sprouting 

 from base. Bed fonned of dead leaves (eucalyptus) and grass in addi- 

 tion to a few of the bkd's feathers, but cliiefly the eucalyptus leaves, 

 evidently plucked from the branchlets above. Eggs eight, and one 

 fractiu-ed shell. This nest was picturesquely situated, Ijeing protected 

 in front by dead branches, and made a splendid photograph. 



6. — 13th June. Nest found about fifty paces from a wire boundary 

 fence, and under a small tree with branching suckers from base, sur- 

 rounded with a few large fallen sticks ; altogether, with the beautiful 

 green eggs, forming a pretty picture. There was the usual amount of 

 bedding for the eggs, which were an uncompleted clutch of six. The 

 bu-d was not sitting, but was seen loitering not far distant. In the 

 uncertain light (it being sundown) the bird appeared to be tiic female. 



As I was sure the eggs in the la.st-meutioned clutch were perfectly 

 fresh, I brought one full to my home in Melbourne. It weighed 1 lb. 

 7 J ozs. (a weight, about equal to a dozen ordiuaiy domestic fowl's eggs), the 

 shell weighing 3 oz., leaving a net result of 20A oz. This quite filled a 

 medium-sized frying-pan, making a substantial Ijrcakfast for a family. 

 Contrary to expectation, the flavour was, if anything, milder than that 

 of the domestic fowl's, which wa.s cooked afterwards in tlic same pan 

 for comparison; therefore some palates may consider the Emu's egg 

 tasteless, but we proved it a dclica-cy. Moreover, the appearance when 

 cooked was clean and tempting; the yolk was light-yellow; the albumen 

 firm but scmi-traiisparent, not an opaque white, hke that of an ordi- 



