X3HAP. ix.] EASY EMEU-STALKING. 359 



tell us : v< An Emeu came very near our tents ; and by 

 carrying a bush a la ' Birnam,' we got several shots, 

 without, however, having the good luck to hit." ("Small 

 thanks to the shooters," may the Emeus mutter.) " It 

 was obvious, on various occasions, that the first appear- 

 ance of such large quadrupeds as bullocks and horses 

 did not scare the Emeu or Kangaroo ; but that, on the 

 contrary, when they would have run at the first appear- 

 ance of their enemy, man, when advancing singly, 

 they would allow him to approach mounted, and even to 

 dismount, fire from behind a horse, and load again, 

 without attempting to run off." "Emeus were very 

 numerous on the open downs, and their curiosity 

 brought them to stare at our horses, apparently un- 

 conscious of the presence of the biped on their backs, 

 whom both birds and beasts seem instinctively to 

 avoid. In one flock I counted twenty-nine Emeus, and 

 so near did these birds come to us on that occasion, 

 that, having no rifle with me, I was tempted to dis- 

 charge even my pistol at one, although without effect." 

 Small thanks again to Sir Thomas Mitchell ! but a few 

 skilful Highland Deer-stalkers would bring home a very 

 different bag of Emeus. Dr. Leichhardt's book contains 

 numerous instances of the little difficulty there is in 

 securing them ; and when it is remembered that every 

 water-course discovered by these pioneers of colonization 

 will soon be occupied ; that a grand object of enterprise 

 at this date is to penetrate through Australia in all di- 

 rections; and that the continent, wherever habitable, 

 must become veined, although not overspread, with a 

 European and game-pursuing population, it is not pre- 

 mature to commence a lament over the departing 

 coursers of the wilderness, and think how sad will be 



