]Srov., 1906.] THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 139 



all will agree with me that it is a work this Club can and ought 

 to do, and, I have no doubt, do itself credit at the same time. 



Do not imagine for one moment that I want to coin a name for 

 every individual species of our flora. Such a proceeding will be 

 impossible; but when we find a universally admired flower like 

 Tetratheca called in some districts " Native Boronia," though we 

 already have real Boronias here, surely this is some indication of 

 what may be termed a long-felt want. I could quote other 

 examples of inappropriate local names, but as I have put these 

 remarks before you more for the purpose of provoking criticism 

 and discussion than fur recording facts, I will content myself with 

 what I have already said. 



THE KING ISLAND EMU. 



By Professor Baldwin Spencer, F.R.S. 



For many years past considerable interest has been taken in the 

 ■question of.the former existence of an Emu in Tasmania and the. 

 islands of Bass Strait. The specimens of Dromceus ater secured 

 on Kangaroo Island during Baudin's expedition are the only 

 ones known of that bird, which is now, unfortunately, extinct. 

 One specimen seems to have found its way to Florence, 

 where it was discovered by Dr. Giglioli in 1900. In 1903 

 a few bones from the sand dunes of King Island came to 

 the National Museum, Melbourne, but they were insufficient to 

 form any decided opinion upon. Recently, however, Mr. R. M. 

 Johnston, I.S.O., and Mr. Alex. Morton visited King Island, 

 -and brought back a considerable number of bones, which they 

 have kindly placed in my hands for description. A complete 

 account of these will be published later ; meanwhile I take the 

 opportunity of describing the Emu, which I think is undoubtedly 

 a new species, though probably closely allied to D. ater from 

 Kangaroo Island. 



The total collection of bones at my disposal includes 17 

 femurs, 28 tarso-metatarsi, 19 tibias, and portions of 8 pelves. 



During Baudin's expedition the naturalists interviewed a 

 whaler named Cowper on King Island, and closely catechized 

 him* in regard to the Emu, though it is rather curious that they 

 did not secure an actual specimen, and now, unfortunately, it is 

 too late to do so. 



A careful comparison of certain bones of Dromceus novce- 

 hollandioe, and D. ater is given by Messrs. Milne-Edwards and 



* "Bull, du Museum d'Histoire Natural," vol. v., 1899, p. 206. I am 

 indebted to Mr. R. Etheridge, jun., for the opportunity of consulting this 

 work. 



