442 CLASS AVES. 



that of a carriage, or of thunder heard at a distance. When 

 annoyed, it would grunt, not unlike a pig. 



Though more massive and heavy than the ostrich, the emu, 

 when pursued, runs almost as fast, and seems, according to 

 Valentyn, partly to dance, and partly to fly. Its ordinary walk 

 is erect, and steady, and it keeps the legs considerably apart. 

 Occasionally it is observed to make bounds or leaps ; but 

 heavily, and with a deal of noise. To defend itself, and 

 seize or break any thing, it employs its bill with advantage, 

 which is stronger than that of the ostrich. It also strikes 

 very efficiently and dangerously with the foot, both forwards 

 and backwards. The Hindoos regard it as a very stupid 

 bird ; yet it is taken with great difficulty, when adult, and dogs 

 themselves can scarcely overtake it in the chase. To be 

 tamed, it must be caught when very young. 



The eggs of the emu are, in general, of a greyish white, 

 with a great number of small greenish points. Some, 

 however, are found not varied in this way ; and others Avith 

 paler or deeper tints. Valentyn has seen some of a liver- 

 I colour, without any spot. These eggs are more elongated 

 than those of the ostrich, and not equal to them in bulk. In 

 the wild state, the bird lays but three or four, which it 

 deposits in the sand. It is pretended that, after having 

 covered them over, it leaves them to be hatched by the opera- 

 tion of the heat of the climate. But, like the ostrich, the 

 variations of temperature, and the comparative coldness of the 

 nights, must certainly occasionally determine these birds to 

 incubate ; for some persons in the train of Valentyn, found, 

 in 1660, an emu seated on three eggs. The flesh of this bird 

 is black, hard, and not succulent. 



The first emu seen in Europe was brought over by the 

 Dutch, to whom the king of Cidaio in the island of Java, 

 made a present of it, at the time of their first navigation to 

 the Indies in the year 1597- Though this bird does not 



