THE OSTRICH 21 



life, are marked with several black and white stripes, and 

 when they are hatched their tiny legs are prettily spotted, 

 but this peculiarity very soon disappears. 



Ostrich-like, the Emeu's home is on the sun-scorched 

 plains and bush-dotted expanses which make up so large 

 a part of the wilder regions of Australia. His food 

 consists mostly of " roots of various kinds, herbage, fruit, 

 and berries." 



His long legs are his best safeguard from enemies, four- 

 footed or human, but the deadly bullet of a modern rifle 

 leaves him little chance of escape if the hunter has crept 

 up to within easy range. 



Like the Ostrich, he can deliver an effective kick when 

 he and his enemy come to close quarters, but whereas the 

 Ostrich kicks forward the Emeu kicks either backward or 

 sideways. His reach, too, is considerable, for he stands 

 from five to seven feet high. 



Whether Emeus have a sense of fun we can hardly tell, 

 but sometimes, in captivity, they act as if they had. One 

 writer, for instance, recalls how he once noticed several 

 tame Emeus, near Government House, Sydney, walking 

 about among the people while the band was playing. 

 Some visitors, who were not used to meeting Emeus in 

 their walks abroad, came suddenly upon these tall birds 

 and took to their heels, much scared. The Emeus ap- 

 peared to think this a great joke ; they gave chase, and 

 coming up with one of the men, lifted his hat from his 

 head to his no small alarm and surprise. 



There are two species of Emeu. One is now found 

 only in South-eastern Australia ; the other inhabits 

 Western Australia. 



Let us hope that this tall, fleet-footed bird with its 

 strange, hairy-looking plumage, which is Australia's 



