The Emeu. 



THE EMEU. (Dromaius Nova? HoUandice.) 



THE head of this bird is without any horny crest, and 

 feathered, but the cheeks and throat are nearly naked. 

 The general colour is a dull brown, mottled with a dingy 

 grey, and the young are striped with black. In appear- 

 ance it closely resembles the ostrich, next to which it is 

 the tallest bird known, but is of a more thick-set and 

 clumsy make, though at the same time very swift and 

 strong, and able to make a formidable defence against its 

 hunters and their dogs, by kicking in a very vigorous 

 and dangerous manner. It is, however, very docile, and 

 if taken young may be easily tamed. The flesh is con- 

 sidered excellent eating, and is said to possess a flavour 

 something between a sucking-pig and a turkey. The 

 only gound that this bird emits is a low drumming noise, 

 produced by means of a valve attached to the lungs. 

 The female Emeu lays her eggs in different places, but 

 they are afterwards collected by the male, by rolling 

 them to one place, when he sits on them. 



