300 



THE APTERYX. 



pulling down and breaking in pieces almost any hard substance. It 

 strikes, in a very dangerous manner with its feet, either behind or 

 before, at any object which offends it. 



In a wild state these birds lay three or four eggs at a time, and 

 these are generally of a greenish or greyish color, beautifully spotted 

 with grass green, and marked towards their smaller end with white. 

 The female deposits them in the sand, and, after having covered them 

 over, leaves them to be hatched by the heat of the sun and the 

 atmosphere. In some countries, however, and under some circum- 

 stances, Cassowaries sit upon their eggs like other birds. 



Cassowaries are found only in the south-eastern parts of Asia ; that 

 is, in the peninsula of India beyond the Ganges, and in the islands of 

 the Indian Archipelago ; but they are not very numerous in any of 

 these places. The deep forests of the island of Ceram, along the 

 southern coast from Ethiopia almost to Kelemori, contain, however, 

 great numbers of them. 



THE EMU. 



The Emu is a native of New Holland, and neany equals the Ostrich 

 in bulk, its height being between five and six feet. Its feathers lie 

 loosely on the body, and its wings are small and hardly to be dis- 

 tinguished. The skin of the Emu furnishes a bright and clear oil, ou 

 which account it is eagerly sought after. 



THE APTERYX. 



This extraordinary bird, whose name is derived from tne apparent 

 absence of wings, those mem- 

 bers being merely rudimentary, 

 inhabits the island^ of New 

 Zealand. It conceals itself 

 among the densest fern, arid 

 when hunted by dogs, it hastens 

 to seek a refuge among rocks 

 and in the chambers which it 

 excavates in the earth. In these 

 chambers its nest is made and 

 the eggs laid. The natives hunt 

 it with great eagerness, as the 

 skin is used for the dresses of chiefs, who are so tenacious of them 

 that they can hardly be persuaded to part with a single skin. The 

 feathers are employed to make artificial flies. When attacked it 

 defends itself by rapid and vigorous strokes with its powerful feet. 



Dr. Shaw first brought this bird before the notice of the public, but 

 for many years naturalists considered it an extinct species. Latterly 

 the question has been set at rest, not only by the researches of Gould 

 and other naturalists, but by the arrival in England of several skins 



THJ5 APTEKTX. 



