370 HABITS [CHAP, ix., 



though certainly, if irritated, they have an efficient and 

 powerful weapon of offence in their strong legs, which 

 are the parts they chiefly avail themselves of in any 

 combats they may be brought into. As to their con- 

 tinuance of propagation in this country, independent of 

 importation, the point which may be all important in 

 respect to their continued existence on the face of the 

 earth, no reason appears why, after the first few gene- 

 rations, it should not continue, with proper care and 

 attention to their habits. The reader may not be aware 

 that, in this species, and probably in the whole tribe 

 with some slight modifications in the different species, 

 the business of incubation is performed entirely by the 

 males ; but it is not yet quite clear whether the Emeu 

 is strictly monogamic, or whether, like some others of 

 the family, he is polygamous naturally. The opinion 

 Lord Derby is at this time most inclined to adopt is the 

 former ; at least, he is certain that they do better when 

 disposed of in separate pairs, distinct and removed from 

 others, than when kept in greater numbers together in 

 one and the same inclosure. 



Early this year (1850) a curious circumstance oc- 

 curred with the Emeus at Knowsley, which, though not 

 a matter of very great importance, may be of some in- 

 terest to record, as giving us something more of insight 

 into the habits of a bird with which we have only 

 lately become tolerably acquainted. The pair began to 

 lay just before the frosty weather in January, and as by 

 the 19th of that month they had seven eggs, not having 

 been stopped by the severity of the season, it was feared 

 that the eggs might become injured, and inquiries were 

 made if the old ones paid any attention to them, when 

 it appeared that both sexes sat at night by the side of 



