252 CURSORES. STRUTHIONID.E. 



flesh which they dislike, and because, when driven 

 to extremity, it defends itself with great vigour, 

 striking out with its feet, and inflicting terrible 

 wounds ; the settlers assert that it will break the 

 small bone of a man's leg by this sort of kick. 

 To avoid being struck, the dogs, if properly 

 trained, will run up abreast, and make a sudden 

 spring at the neck ; and if successful they then 

 soon dispatch the game. The eggs are highly 

 esteemed for the table, and the flesh of the young 

 is extremely delicate ; that of the old bird is 

 coarse, but is eaten both by the natives and Euro- 

 peans, who prefer it even to that of the Kangaroo. 

 " The rump part," says Mr. George Bennett, " is 

 considered as delicate as fowl : the legs are coarse 

 like beef, but still tender." The skin yields 

 several quarts of clear oil, which is valued for 

 many purposes. 



The nest of the Emu consists of a few sticks 

 and leaves, scraped together among the brush- 

 wood : here it lays from six to eleven eggs, of a 

 beautiful sea-green hue, and nearly as large as 

 those of the Ostrich. During the season they 

 form a large means of subsistence to the natives. 



Emus go in large flocks upon the extensive 

 downs, where they feed upon leaves, fruits, and 

 herbage. They swim well, crossing rivers with 

 ease : on land they are very fleet. The voice of 

 these birds is a hollow, inward, drumming sound, 

 produced by a peculiar structure of the windpipe. 

 There is no doubt that they might readily become 

 naturalized in England. 



