568 



FLIGHTLESS BIRDS. 



communicating with the windpipe, on the front of which it opens by a small 

 aperture ; this structure being confined to the female sex. From its larger size, 

 the hen-emeu is very liable to be mistaken for the cock. Writing of the differ- 

 ence in the habits and appearance of the two sexes, Mr. Bennett observes, of a pair 

 in his possession, " one is considerably larger than the other, stouter in limb, and 

 more robust in every feature; it has a slight top-knot, and goes strutting about, 

 especially in damp weather, with its breast feathers fully out, like a pouter-pigeon, 

 or rather some huge turkey-cock. It is usually the more courageous and pugilistic. 

 It makes a deep, hollow, guttural boom, when under any gentle excitement of 



\ N \ ^ . v 



EMEU RESTING. 



pride or pleasure, especially on damp evenings, or in the still hours of the night, 

 sounding like a small gong or distant muffled drum. The other is more agile and 

 graceful in all its movements, corresponding with its slender frame, more docile 

 and inquisitive, fleeter of foot, and with no voice beyond a suppressed hiss when 

 angry, and a sort of grunt when distressed." The former, although at first regarded 

 as the cock, turned out to be the female. In their wild state emeus take readily 

 to the water, and have on more than one occasion been observed swimming a wide 

 river. Beneath the skin these birds have a thick layer of fat, yielding a pale 

 amber-coloured oil, free from either taste or smell. Very easily tamed, and in a 

 domesticated state thriving well in Europe, where it breeds freely, the emeu is 

 noticeable for a curious and somewhat mischievous disposition. It will, for instance, 

 invariably endeavour to inspect every strange object brought into its vicinity, 



