380 emeu; 



a conspicuous knob instead of a back toe, the forward ones united at 

 the base by a membrane. 



The Emeu is found in South America, from Guiana, to the most 

 southern coast ; at Rio grande, Serigippo,* about Buenos Ayres,f 

 and even to the Coast of Patagonia; J but no where more plentiful 

 than in the neighbourhood of the Lake Nahuelguapi, in the Valley 

 of the Andes. 



Dampier§ also talks of Ostriches being found to the south of 

 Bahia, in great plenty, though not so large as those of Africa ; 

 chiefly in the southern parts of Brazil, among the large savannas, 

 near the River Plata, and from thence to the Straits of the Magellan : 

 it is said to live on fruits: is a voracious bird ; and like the Ostrich, 

 swallows any thing indiscriminately offered to it ; but according to 

 Molina, its favourite food is flies, which it catches with a peculiar 

 address. Azara says, it is known to the Guaranis by the names of 

 Nandu, and Churi, but the other inhabitants call it Emeu, and 

 Autruche; and that it is more plentiful on the borders of the River 

 Plata, than in Paraguay ; for the most part seen in the open parts 

 in pairs, though now and then in flocks of thirty: the nest is only 

 a large hole in the ground, often with a little straw at the bottom, 

 and on this the eggs are laid ; from 60 to 80 have been found in 

 one nest; hence it may be supposed, that several females contribute 

 to produce them, and that each female lays 16 or 17 ; as to size, the 

 egg is said to contain about two pints of liquid. They are often 

 taken by hunting, by means of slings, with stones at the ends, which 

 being thrown at them, they are thereby entangled ; at other times 

 shot, but are rarely to be overtaken, unless by a person on horseback. 

 When caught young, they are said to become familiar in a day or 

 two: the flesh is much esteemed, being when young, tender and 

 well-flavoured. 



* Willughby. f Faulkn. Patag. J Id. pp. 52, 53. 101. 109. 126. 



Where he mentions the methods used in taking them, and says their name is Choique. See 

 also Wallis's Voy. p. 373. § Voy. vol. iii. part i. p. 76. 



