ORDER GRALL I:. 441 



casque, and by having the head entirely covered with a naked 

 and whitish skin, and the plumage a clear red, mixed with 

 grey. 



The emu is found in the most eastern part of South Asia, in 

 the Moluccas, the islands of Java and Sumatra, and especially 

 in the deep forests of the isle of Ceram. But it is common no 

 where. Although domesticated in Amboyna, it is not abori- 

 ginally of that island, but is brought, according to Labillar- 

 diere, from countries situated more to the east. The senses 

 of smell and taste do not appear to be more delicate in the 

 emu than in the ostrich. Like it, it will swallow every thing 

 which presents itself ; but it returns what it has thus taken 

 much more promptly, especially when it is pursued. Its 

 general food consists of fruits and roots. The construction 

 of its tongue does not permit it to eat grain ; but it swallows 

 apples, and sometimes passes them entire. It is said to do 

 the same with hen''s eggs, of which it is very fond. An emu 

 in the French menagerie used to consume, daily, three pounds 

 and a half of bread, six or seven apples, a large bunch of car- 

 rots, and drink almost four pints of water in summer, and a 

 little more in winter. Those brought up in India prefer the 

 bread of Sagou, to all other aliment ; and the wild indi- 

 viduals live on the fruits which fall from the trees. In 

 poultry-yards, the emus sometimes swallow little pullets, and 

 even ducks, when the latter do not struggle against them. 

 Their excrements are almost liquid, and they do not void 

 urine separately. 



Valentyn compares the voice of the emu to that of a 

 chicken ; and adds that, when hunted, or about to fight with 

 domestic animals, it utters a snorting sort of sound, like a 

 rabbit. In the menagerie its cry resembled the syllables 

 hoit-Jiou ; and sometimes, inflating its throat, lowering its 

 head, and trembling all over, it would produce a noise like 



