40 



NATURAL HISTORY OF BIRDS. 



The members of this suj>crfamily are at present confined to the Australian and 

 Indo-Mahiyan region, Imt fossil remains have been found in India and also in Europe, 

 if the so-ealled J/acroniis and Megulornis, fi-oni the London elay, really belong 

 here. 



The first family, the DROM.viin.t:, whieh embraces only the emus, represent 

 in the Australian deserts and jilains the ostriches of Africa and the IJIicxs of South 

 America, but are smaller than the former, though larger than the latter, standing, 

 as they do, about five feel hiji. As their jiosition within the same siijierfamily as 

 the cassowaries indicates, their athnities are with the latter, from which they are 

 easily distinguished by the absence of the helmet on the top of the head ; neither 

 do tiiey have the spiny rudiuieiits of wing feathers, nor the nail of the inner toe 

 lengthened unusually; the nostrils are jilaeeil near the middle of the beak, and 

 not in the anterior half of it, as in the cassowaries. The neck and most of the head 

 are feathered, and the feathers less hair-like. Of anatomical characters may be nien- 

 tioneil that the clavicles, though reduced .ind separate, are less rudimentary than 

 m the binls composing the following family, and that the feinoro-caudal muscle is 



•absent, while jiresent in the cas- 

 sowaries. 



Not more than two s]iecies 

 are conceded by the best anthor- 

 ilics, — the JJronidius novo'- 

 /i(i//iiii(/i<i , inhabiting eastern 

 Australia, and JJ. irrorolus, 

 from the southern and western 

 parts of that continent, — both 

 of a brownish color; the latter 

 however, with the indivi<lu:d 

 feathers of the body distinctly 

 marked with narrow transverse bars of light grayish and brownish black. 



The emu was first described and figured under the name of the Xew Holland 

 cassowary in Governor Phillip's "Voyage to Botany Bay." According to !Mr. Gould, 

 "the old Bush-man," whose account of the Australian liirds must be the chief source 

 anil foundation of all information concerning the ornithology of that remarkable 

 region, during the earlier days of the colony, the emu was universally dis]ierscd 

 over the whole of the Australian continent. The encroachment of the white man, 

 however, has now caused its almost extirpation in many jiarts; though sjood emu 

 coursing, which is said to be excellent, ami eijualling, if not surpassing, the same sport 

 with the hare in England, may still be h.id in districts where the settlers have not vet 

 commenced their merciless war against the native .animals. It is stated, however, tliat 

 dogs will selilom attack it, both on account of some peculiar odor, and because of the 

 dangerous injuries it inflicts by striking out with its feet; to avoid which, the well- 

 trained <h)gs run up abreast .and make a sudilen spring at their neck, wherebv thevare 

 quickly flespatched. Mr. Cunningham as.serts th.at but litlh- of the emu is fit for culi- 

 nary use except the hind-(|iiarters, "which are of such dimensions that the shouhleriii"- 

 of two hind-legs homew.ards for a mile distance once jiroved me .as tiresome a task as 

 I ever recollect to have encountered in the colony." 



According to Gould, the only vocal sound the emu has been heard to utter is a low 

 booming or jumping noise. The eggs are six or seven in number, of a beautiful dark- 



Fio. le. — Pelvis of emu {Itrvmaiiu nora-liolta 



