504 THE EMEU. 



their two toes at their extremity, are firmly yet flexibly jointed into their sockets, and their 

 form is wonderfully adapted for the attachment of the stalwart muscles which move them. 

 Not only are the legs employed for progression, but they can be used with tremendous effect 

 as offensive weapons, knocking over a hyena with a stroke, and deterring even the agile 

 leopard from coming within their reach. The Ostrich always kicks forward, and when hunted 

 with dogs it is sure to inflict severe injuries on young and inexperienced hounds before it is 

 pulled down. The strong sharp claw with which its toe is armed gives dreadful effect to the 

 blow, and, like the claw of the kangaroo, has been known to rip up an antagonist at a stroke. 

 When driven to bay, it will turn and fight desperately even with man, and, unless due precau- 

 tions are taken, will strike him down and trample upon him. In captivity, the bird has been 

 frequently known thus to assault intruders or strangers, and to be very formidable to them, 

 although to its keeper it soon becomes affectionate. 



The voice of the Ostrich is a deep, hollow, rumbling sound, so like the roar of the lion 

 that even practised ears have been deceived by it, and taken the harmless Ostrich for a prowl- 

 ing lion. In its wild state the Ostrich is thought to live from twenty to thirty years. 



In the male bird, the lower part of the neck and the body are deep glossy black, with a 

 few white feathers, which are barely visible except when the plumage is ruffled. The plumes 

 of the wings and tail are white. The female is ashen-brown, sprinkled with white, and her 

 tail and wing-plumes are white, like those of the male. The weight of a fine adult male seems 

 to be between two and three hundred pounds. 



THE EMEU inhabits the plains and open forest country of Central Australia, where it was 

 in former days very common, but now seems to be decreasing so rapidly in numbers that Dr. 

 Bennett, who has had much personal experience of this fine bird, fears that it will, ere many 

 years, be numbered with the Dodo and other extinct birds. 



The Emeu is not unlike the ostrich, which it resembles in many of its habits as well as in 

 its form and general aspect. It is very swift of foot, but can be run down by horses and dogs 

 without much difficulty. The dogs are trained to reserve the attack until the bird is thor- 

 oughly tired out, and then spring upon the throat in such a manner as to escape the violent 

 kicks which the Emeu deals fiercely around, and which are sufficiently powerful to disable an 

 assailant. The Emeu does not kick forwards like the ostrich, but delivers the blow sideways 

 and backwards like a cow. 



The flesh of the Emeu is thought to be very good, especially if the bird be young. The 

 legs are always the coarsest and worst-flavored portions, the flesh of the back being thought 

 equal to fowl. The natives will not permit women or boys to eat the flesh of the Emeu, 

 reserving that diet for warriors and counsellors. A rather valuable oil is obtained from this 

 bird, as much as six or seven quarts being secured from a fine specimen. It cliiefly resides in 

 the skin, but also collects in great quantities about the rump, and between the scapularies and 

 the sternum. It is obtained easily enough by plucking the feathers, cutting the skin into 

 pieces, and boiling them in a common cooking-pot. A still simpler plan, though not so pro- 

 ductive, is to toast the skin before the fire, and catch the oil in a vessel as it drips from the 

 heated skin. This oil is of a light yellow color, and is considered very valuable, being 

 largely used as an embrocation to bruises or strains, either by itself or mixed with turpen- 

 tine. As it does not readily congeal, or become glutinous, it is useful for oiling the locks of 

 fire-arms. The natives prefer to roast the Emeu with the skin still upon it, thinking that the 

 oil makes the flesh more luscious. When quite fresh, it is almost free from taste or smell, 

 and is quite transparent. 



The food of the Emeu consists of grass and various fruits. Its voice is a curious, hollow, 

 booming, or drumming kind of note, produced by the peculiar construction of the windpipe. 

 The legs of this bird are shorter and stouter in proportion than those of the ostrich, and the 

 wings are very short, and so small that when they lie closely against the body they can hardly 

 be distinguished from the general plumage. 



The nest of the Emeu is made by scooping a shallow hole in the ground in some scrubby 

 spot, and in this depression a variable number of eggs are laid. Dr. Bennett remarks that 



