i066 NESTS AND EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



goes at top speed, it carries its body together with neck extended at an 

 angle of about 45 deg. with the plain. Of course the fine birds soon 

 distance ns by making " ti'acks " amid wreaths of spray through a flooded 

 sliallow, whUe we wheel and continue oui' own track. 



Ou cloudless, moonless nights, especially in winter, there may be 

 seen in the southern sky the shadow of a great Emu in the act of 

 running, as it were, eastward. Its head is fonned by the " Devil's 

 stoke-hole " against the Southern Cross constellation, then the neck and 

 body may be traced downward tlu-ough the " Milky Way," the legs being 

 lost on the horizon. I am informed that an aboriginal tribe (" Bell- 

 yoon-mah ") on the Upper Muichison (West Australia), possesses a legend 

 about this " Emu in the Sky." 



In connection with the Emu the following iUustrations are given ; 

 (1) " Finding an Emu's Nest," (2) " An Emu's Nest," (3) " Emu-eggers, 

 RetiuTiing with the Spoil," (4) " An Emu-eggers' Camp," (5) " A Pet 

 Emu," (6) " Emu Chicks." 



763. — Drom^us irroratus, Bartlett. — (493) 

 SPOTTED EMU. 



Figure. — Sclater : Trans. Zool. Soc, iv., pi. 76 (1S62). 



Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. xxvii., p. 589. 



Previous Descriptions of Eggs. — Campbell : Victorian Naturalist 

 (18SS), also Roy.' Phys. Soc, Edin., vol. xiii., p. 226 (1896), 

 North : Austn. Mus. Cat., p. 294 (18S9). 



Geograplncul Distribution. — Northern Territoiy (probably), West 

 and North-west Australia, interior of South Australia, and Victoria 

 (accidental). 



yent. — Similar to that of the Common Emu (1). n<iv(c lioZ/diu/ut J, 

 being a flat bed of herbage upon the gi'omid. 



A'yv-v. — Clutch, average eight to ten. As in the other variety, a 

 maximum of eighteen has been reported. Of the usual elliptical form, 

 both ends being alike in shape, supci-ficially in appearance like shagi'cen, 

 or rough American cloth ; general coloiu-, of a beautifid dark green ; but 

 if examined closely only the raised or rough pjuticles or granulations of 

 the shell will be found to be dark green, wliieli, at certain angles of 

 light, are poli.shed and assume a very dark intligo colour, wliile the inters- 

 tices are of a light gieen. In general appearance the eggs resemble those 

 of the Common Emu. Dimensions in inches of a proper clutch . 

 (1) 5-25 X 3-68, (2) 5-25 x 3-62, (3) 5-18 x 3-62, (4) 5-18 x 3-62, 

 (5) 5-06 X 3-56, (6) 5-0 x 3-62, (7) 5-0 x 3-62. 



Ohservntionx. — During my visit to Western Australia I gallieivd 

 what information I could refen-ing to the Emits, and aUhougli 



