GLASGOW SOCIETY OF FIELD NATURALISTS. 195 



9th December, 1876. 



Mr, J. Harvie, Vice-President, in the chair. 



Messrs. Fred. Grierson, Peter Grant, Arch. Grant, and Dr. John 

 Glaister were elected ordinary members of the Society. Prof. 

 Dittmar was elected an honorary member. 



SPECIMENS EXHIBITED, 



By Mr. James Allan. — A curious variety of the common oak fern 

 {Polypodium dryopteris), an abnormal specimen of the moss {Hypnum 

 triquetrum), and a peculiar fungus from the hills above Campsie. 



By Mr. R. H. Paterson. — Five eggs, and a cabinet specimen of 

 the Eraew {Dromanius Novae HoUandiae), from Australia. This 

 peculiar bird belongs to the class Cursores or runners, a wingless 

 tribe of birds, in which we have also the Ostrich and Apteryx. The 

 far interior of Australia must be visited in order to see this bird in 

 its wild state, and unless attention is paid in rearing them, the time 

 is not far distant when this noble bird will have met the fate of so 

 many of the wingless tribe, and become extinct. The natives call 

 the Emew " Gorin " and " Berberine." It is valued by them for 

 its oil, which is of a clear bright golden yellow colour. The bird 

 possesses great keenness of vision. It crops the grass like a cow, 

 and also feeds on various fruits, preferring the quandong or native 

 peach {Fusanus acuminatus) to that of all other fruits. The settlers 

 hunt them with dogs, going out early in the morning, when they 

 can be surprised while feeding. They are exceedingly swift of foot, 

 and as soon as the dogs reach them, they turn round and strike out 

 with their legs, trying to disable their enemies. The usual result, 

 however, is, that they are overpowered and killed. The entire 

 plumage of the bird is of a dark brown mottled with a dirty grey. 

 The female lays from nine to eleven eggs, which are of a beautiful 

 bluish green colour. They are hatched by incubation. Their nest 

 is of the most simple character, and is usually built on the edge of 

 some dark wood. He also exhibited specimens of the rare Australian 

 Jabiru (Mycferia ausiralis) and the brush turkey {Tallegcdla, sp.) 

 The brush turkey possesses very extraordinary habits. Instead of 

 hatching its young by the warmth of its body, as is the ordinary 

 method of incubation, it constructs a natural eccalcobion, by heaping 

 together a mound of vegetable matter, in which it deposits its eggs, 



