NESTS AND EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. loO/ 



tlie Connuou birtl cxrtaiiily inliabiU tlmL territory, there appears 

 to exist a Spotted variety also, which exhibits a preference, so 

 it is reported, for the " silver ' gi-ass counti-y of the mterior and possibly 

 extends its range to the north-west. Tliat it also wanders far east- 

 wai-d is known by the fact that a specimen of the Spotted Emu taken 

 in Victoria is in the National Musciun, Melboiunc. 



The two species, as contrasted in Gould, represent the feathers of 

 the Spotted v;u-iety as being baiTcd or spotted alternately with dull white 

 and gi-ey, witli a maiginal tip of black, whereas the feathers of the Com- 

 mon vai-iety aie gi-ey only, tipped with black. The general appearance 

 of tlie whole coat of the Spotted bird is frequently of a decided brownish 

 tinge. This 1 observed in skins I saw used as mats in some of the dwell- 

 ings of the \\'ost Australians. The Spotted Emu is not so heavy in the 

 legs as the Common vai-iety. 



On my retiu'u home from Western Australia, Captain Thomas W. 

 Smith, of the Government schooner " Meda," thoughtfully forwarded 

 a voimcr Emu, which was taken in the north-west. The bu'd remained 

 on my premises luitil it grew out of all proportion to the size of its 

 quiU'ters, therefore was transfeiTed to the Zoological Gardens, where 

 it developed into a splendid male bird, with more of a reddish tinge 

 about his coat, while the feathers are sooty grey (not pale grey), and 

 darker down the centre compai'ed with the eastern birds in the same 

 enclosure. He mated with an eastern bird. Result, a maximum , clutch 

 of eighteen eggs, which unfortunately were deserted after the male had 

 incubated them about foui-teeu days. 



He was particularly fond of the children. When they romped, the 

 bird would do so too, racing round the yard and gamboling about, 

 occasionally " planting " with his neck outstretched along the ground, 

 as if hiding. He would devoui' almost anything. One day a pedlar 

 called, was wroth because liis basket of wares was not patronised, and 

 while holding forth as to the iniquitous conduct of the householder, 

 ■' Siwttie," as we called the Emu, because his juvenile plumage was 

 decidedly spotted, stole up quietly from behind, and commenced throwing 

 thimbles and trinkets of trifling value down his throat. 



I found some confusion of dates existed among West Australians as 

 to when the Emu lays there, some saying autumn or winter, others 

 alhnning positively that spring is the time. Probably all are right, as 

 the breeding season is gieatly affected by the seasons of rain. The fol- 

 lowing notes are culled from Mr. Tom Carter's lettei-s to me. During 

 a season of distressing drought in 18'Jl, ho wi'itcs from Point Cloates ; — 

 " Shot an Emu (female) in very poor condition. Doubtless hard up for 

 water, the nearest known pool being forty miles distant, and I do not 

 know if that be dry too. The natives say the Emus diink the sea. 

 A shepherd killed one on the beach a short time ago." Again : " Emus 

 are drinking salt-water and dying in numbers." 



Another season, Mr Carter writes under various dates : — " March 

 20th. Shot female with large clutch of eggs within her." 



" Minilya, May 18th. Emu eggs brought in by natives." 



" Gascoyne, May 25th. Five eggs (Emu) seen in nest." 



