Oil the Successful Bectring in Scotland of the Emu. 209 



II. Exhibition of Specimens : (1.) Aquila chrysaetos, Golden 

 Ecujle ; (2.) Dromaius Novse-Holiandiae, Em u. (Speci- 

 mens exhibited.) By 11. H. Traquaik, Esq., M.D., 

 F.G.S. 



Dr Traquair exhibited two recent additions to the ornitho- 

 logical collection of the Museum of Science and Art. The 

 golden eagle, a female, was a remarkably fine specimen, and 

 had been caught in a trap, a few weeks previously, in Eoss- 

 shire. The emu was a young bird bred in Scotland by ]\Ir 

 R Bell of Billholm, Dumfriesshire, and presented by him to 

 the Museum. 



III. On the Successful Rearing in Scotland of the Emu (Dro- 

 maius Xov^e-HoUandiffi). By John Gibson, Esq. 



The emu has been already successfully reared in the 

 Gardens of the Zoological Society, Eegent Park, and also in 

 one or two private parks in England ; but to ]\Ir E. Bell of 

 Billholm, Dumfriesshire, the credit belongs of having raised 

 the first Scottish brood. The old birds were purchased by him 

 from Mr Jamrach, in October 1875, and placed together in a 

 paddock at Billholm ; but owing to the persistent persecution 

 to which the female was subjected by the male, as it after- 

 wards proved to be — for it is impossible to distinguish the 

 sexes in the emu by the plumage or other purely external 

 character — they were separated, and remained so throughout 

 the winter of 1875-76. On being l)rought together again, in 

 April 1876, they contrived to live on tolerably good terms 

 Avith each other; but nothing occurred till February of the 

 present year to satisfy Mr Bell that the birds were of different 

 sexes. At that time the gardener found three eggs deposited 

 in a corner of the field ; and shortly after, all doubt on the 

 question of sex was removed by his observing the pair in coitu. 

 For about six weeks the hen continued to lay an egg regularly 

 every third day, then, and for a short time only, at intervals 

 of four or five days. Altogether there were nineteen 



