2 THE BIBDS OF AUSTRALIA 



that the so-called Spotted Emu is only an immature phase of 

 the ordinary bird. The spots or bars are found on some birds 

 of a clutch and not on others, and on birds from Victoria and 

 New South Wales quite as often as on those from West 

 Australia. When the birds are fully adult, all the bars 

 disappear, and they are practically all alike in markings, from 

 whatever part of Australia they may come. Another form, 

 D. parvuhis (Gld), formerly lived on Kangaroo Island, but 



From life. 



Emu : Dromaeus novae-hollandiae. 



A. T. De 



was ruthlessly destroyed by the early settlers. Of this bird 

 fortunately both skin and skeleton are in existence. This does 

 not seem, however, to have been the only Emu on the island, 

 for many bones of birds received from it by the South 

 Australian Museum are apparently identical with those of the 

 existing species. Professor Spencer has recognised another 

 smaller species, D. minor, determined on bones obtained from 

 King Island in Bass Strait. 



In the typical Emu the adults are grey, many of the 

 feathers having a blackish tip, and there is little difference 



