48 Emu and Ostrich Faemino. 



be certain that he is iu possession of a male and female Emu. My 

 first two Rheas were sold to me as a breeding pair, as I was 

 ig-norant of the differences in colour ; but in course of time I 

 found they were both females. I purchased three different birds, 

 guaranteed as males, with no better result than adding to my 

 stock of females. This guarantee of sexes is not of much value, 

 and for this reason, that though you may purchase a bird at or 

 near one breeding season, it frequently happens that owing to its 

 inborn restlessness and its new surroundings it will not settle 

 down in its new home, and it may be a year before you can tell 

 which sex you have got — too late to return it to the seller without 

 •■ difficulties." As I failed in my attempt to procure a male Rhea, 

 I cannot from experience pride myself as being able to distinguish 

 their sex. I had not the same difficulty with my Emus, after 

 their being in my possession some time. There is a difference in 

 their " countenance," with which you become familiar after close 

 observation, but the peculiar and loud drumming noise of the 

 female leaves no doubt. This sound is quite wanting in the male, 

 whose voice is a loud, hoarse grunt. When the bird is excited 

 this sound has a very terrifying effect upon strangers, though I 

 myself, owing to my familiarity with it, was not afraid of 

 •' Tommy." When he had young ones beside him he would 

 " come for me " from the furthest corner of the field, grunting and 

 striking out his feet in front as if he meant mischief, but I had 

 only to stand my ground and seize him by the neck, when he at 

 once stopped his fuss, though continuing- to run round and round 

 me in a great state of excitement. I must confess that this 

 standing firm and shewing a bold front required some nerve at 

 first, but the truth of the saying, " familiarity breeds contempt," 

 was vividly impressed upon my mind, and " Tommy " and I were 

 always good friends. On one occasion a lady visitor nearly had 

 a fit of hysterics when she witnessed one of his apparent attacks, 

 fearing T was going to be annihilated on the spot, and was only 

 consoled when she learned that his supposed attack was mere 

 " bounce." It would have been a different affair if she herself 

 had been in the field, and I never allowed strangers to approach 

 the birds during the breeding season without my presence also, 

 and never allowed a lady to enter the field at that time whether 

 accompanied or not. I have read of a gentleman, who was on a 

 visit to Government House, near Sydney, having had his lungs 



