9204 Birds. 
week. It was then found to contain fifteen eggs, so that five had, 
during the time, been laid into it. As heretofore, the bird, after this 
period, became much more restless. The eggs had been marked on. 
previous occasions, so as to endeavour to learn their individual history, 
but the markings had not proved permanent. This year a pigment of 
copal varnish and vermilion was employed, and each egg, as laid, 
conspicuously numbered in two places, which proved effective. In 
the sixth week the last laid egg was found turned out of the nest; 
and, as they had not always been well covered, it was not replaced. 
Early in the seventh week an experiment was tried on one of the 
eggs, in the usual way, with hot water, and it showed manifest signs 
of life; and the hen bird was now shut off for fear of disturbance. On 
the 6th of April an egg was found laid just outside the house, because 
she could not get in! The closing day of the eighth week the sitting 
bird was most uncomfortably restless throughout, and gave me much 
anxiety about the result, but settled again towards night. The first 
thing next morning I found an egg turned right out, and being a slope 
had rolled a considerable distance. It was stone-cold: I brought it in, 
‘however, and thought we would just try it with hot water. To our 
wonder and admiration it kicked—that is, the chick within it—most 
vigorously! Of course it was instantly replaced under the bird. The 
following morning the same egg was again found rolled out of the nest, 
but not to so great a distance, and it had not become so cold. What 
could this mean? It was again treated with hot water, and not only 
manifestly moved with increased strength, but a distinct chirp was 
_heard inside! Again, on the next morning, three more eggs, all 
differing in their number to the previous one, were turned out and 
exposed ; so it was not any particular antipathy to that unfortunate 
egg. They were all tried, and showed ample signs of life, and upon 
being placed close to the ear a strong internal movement, like fermenta- 
tion, was distinctly perceptible. They were all immediately replaced. 
On the next morning, April 13th, the first young emeu was hatched 
out, to our great delight: it was No. 13, the identical egg that had 
been twice dislodged from the nest, and once was taken up so death- 
like cold! On the 14th Nos. 12 and 10 hatched out, and on the 15th 
Nos. 5, 11 and 7. 
On the morning of the i6ih a death was found to have occurred in 
the night. It was not one of the last three, and there was no apparent 
cause. I am strongly inclined to suspect it was poor unfortunate 
No. 13, a large strong chick to all appearances, but perhaps died from 
inflammation or a cold caught in the egg, from that night's exposure. _ 
