SHORT-WINGED CURSORIAL BIRDS. 30I 



and so thinly placed, that the purplish hue of the skin of the throat and a patch round the ears i? 

 perfecdy visible. The sexes differ but little in size, and are alike in colour. We have to thank 

 Dr. Bennett for the first full account of these remarkable birds, dra\Mi from obser%'ation of several 

 kept about his own house. With their life in a wild state we are unfortunately but little acquainted, 

 except that they frequent the open plains in large flocks, and are especially numerous about Botany 

 Bay and Port Jackson. 



THE EMU. 



The Emu {Dromceiis Novtz-HoUandicB) is larger than theNandu, but inferior in size to the Ostrich, 

 its height usually not exceeding six feet. Australian hunters have occasionally killed specimens 

 measuring seven feet to the crown of the head. The coloration of the plumage is principally of a 

 uniform pale brown, of a darker shade on the head, throat, and centre of the back, and paler on the 

 under side. The eye is light brown, the beak horn-grey, and the foot pale bro-mi ; the bare parts of 

 the face are of a greyish tinge. 



This bird is much valued on account of the clear, bright yellow oil extracted from it. This is 

 obtained by boiling, and employed both for burning and as an excellent liniment in gouty cases. 



Dr. Bennett informs us that the natives regard the flesh as a highly luscious treat when cooked 

 with the skin on, and that the fibula or small bone of the leg is employed by them as an ornament. 



The flesh of the Emu, according to Mr. Cunningham, resembles beef " both in appearance and 

 taste, and is good and sweet eating ; nothing indeed can be more delicate than the flesh of the young. 

 There is, however, but little of it fit for culinary use upon any part except the hind-quarters, whicli 

 are of such dimensions that the shouldering of two hind legs homewards for a mile's distance proved." 

 he says, " as tiresome a task as he ever encountered in the colon)'." 



Dr. Leichardt " found the flesh of these birds of the greatest service duriiig his overland route 

 from Moreton Bay to Port Essington," in the course of which, but more particularly between the head 

 of the Gulf of Carpentaria and Port Essington, the sight and capture of Emus was almost a daily 

 occurrence ; so abundant, in fact, were they, that he saw in the short space of eight miles at least one 

 hundred, in flocks of three, five, ten, and even more at a time. Some curious practices exist ^rith 

 respect to this bird among the natives, and young men and boys are not allowed to feed upon it. 

 The note of the Emu is a low, booming or pumping noise, which is produced in the female by means 

 of the expansion and contraction of a large membranous bag, surrounding an oblong opening through 

 the rings of the trachea ; whether this peculiarity of structure is to be found in the male, we are not 

 aware. The Emus pair with tolerable constancy, and the male bird appears to take a large share 

 in the task of incubation. The eggs, which are merely placed in a cavity scooped in a sandy soil, are 

 six or seven in number, and of a beautiful dark green, resembling shagi-een in appearance ; they are 

 five inches and three-quarters long, by three inches and three-quarters in breadth. The eggs are held 

 in much esteem by the natives, who feed upon them whenever they can be procured. 



The nest of the Emu is situated, as we are informed by Dr. Bennett, in a scmb upon the 

 hills, where a space is scraped, similar to those formed by brooding hens. The sticks and leaves, 

 which alone compose the nest, are laid round the cleared spot, and here the eggs are deposited 

 without regard to regularity, the number varying from nine to thirteen. It is a curious circumstance 

 that there is always an odd number. It is now ascertained beyond a doubt that the eggs are hatched 

 by incubation, and not, as was once supposed, by solar heat. They are of large size, and of a beautiful 

 blueish green colour. 



THE SPOTTED EINIU. 

 The Spotted Emu {Dromceus irroratus) is readily distinguished from the above birds by its 



