40-i DROM.EID.E. 



could not fly, and I caught and took it to the station, and kept it a few weeks, then let it go. 

 The Aborigines on the Barwon, Warrego and Bogan Kivers lure and kill Emus in the following 

 manner, when ICmu llesh is required for feasting purposes, either at a big corroboree or the 

 ceremony of admitting a youth to the full privileges of manhood. A native observing a fiock 

 of these birds feeding, will stealthily creep through the long grass or herbage, carrying with 

 him his spears, etc., and by a circuitous route gain the shelter of what is known by the Epi and 

 Combo tribes, on Marra Creek, as a ' Gruie ' tree. This tree is to science known as Oi.'cnia 

 acidula, and locally by the name of Sour Plum or Colane. It is about a foot or eighteen inches 

 in diameter at the butt, and grows to a height of twenty-five to thirty feet, and has a number of 

 wide-spreading branches thickly covered with foliage, and more particularly towards the ends. 

 Usually the lower branches are five or six feet from tlie ground, or, if nearer, are cut off to that 

 height by the Aborigines before-hand. Ascending the tree for about twelve feet a man climbs out 

 a little way from the main trunlc, and makes himself comfortable on one, or more, of its horizontal 

 branches, fie now lowers, by means of some plaited horse-hair — string was used after the 

 advent of the white man in the neighbourhood — a large liall or mop, composed of the tail-feathers 

 of an Emu, and from which depend for a foot or more four or five strips of bright red rag. 

 This hall is secured on either side with a horse-hair line, and these are knotted together some 

 distance above the ends of the shafts of the feathers, so as to give it an even balance. After 

 lowering the ball to about four feet from the ground, the horse-hair line is secured to a branch 

 above him. Placing his spears near him ready for use, he draws up the plaited line for a few 

 inches between his flattened palms, and commences to rapidly draw them backwards and forwards, 

 causing the suspended ball of feathers and red streamers to spin round, and at the same time he 

 loudly imitates the call-note of the female to her young. The Emus at once stop feeding, and 

 looking up catch siglit of the spinning jiall of feathers. Uttering their loud drumming note they 

 walk cautiously towards it, exhibiting all the time symptoms of their curiosity being aroused by 

 the strange object. One more bold than the rest runs a few yards, stops, runs again and is 

 followed by the remainder of the flock. The nati\e still continues to twirl the suspended bunch 

 of feathers, and imitates the call-note in a lower but more persuasive manner. Curiosity over- 

 comes caution, and the birds gradually draw near the tree. The native now holds the line 

 between the fore-finger and thumb of the left hand, and noiselessly grasps his spear. On comes 

 the leading bird craning out its neck and gazing intently, first on one side then on another, at 

 the curious object that has attracted its attention. ' Burri,' ' Burri ' (good, good) rapidly utters 

 the native between his closed teeth, trembling with excitement as he poises his spear aloft. 

 Closer the Emu comes, until it is immediately beneath him, when it quickly pays the penalty of 

 its incjuisitiveness, by being transfixed with a spear, hurled from the hand of its unseen foe above. 

 Immediately the bird falls the remainder of the flock' retire, but only for a short distance. .\s 

 their leader lies struggling on the ground curiosity again prompts them to return to their fallen 

 companion under the fatal tree, when another of their number speedily falls a victim. Seldom 

 more than three are speared, for as every portion of the flesh is cooked and eaten, it is more 

 than enough to provide for a great feast." 



Mr. C. C. L. Talbot informs me that on Butterbone Station, in the same district, the Emu 

 commenced to lay there, in igoo, on the ist May, and continued right up to the first week in 

 August. The number varied from seven to sixteen eggs, but most nests contained nine eggs. 

 Mr. Talbot alone collected over eight hundred eggs that season on the station." 



Mr. Kobt. Grant, Taxidermist of the .Australian Museum, has given me the following 

 notes : — " I found the limu ( Drovhrns iwvoe-IioHnndiir) numerous in many parts of the inland 

 districts of New South Wales, particularly on Glenariff Station, where they were plentiful at the 

 end of June, l8go. I found three nests, one containing six eggs, another ten and the other 

 fourteen, and on two of the nests the parent birds were sitting. They were both sitting close 



