152, o^nciTHOLogr. "b^Th. 



of two. The Claws of all were very great, almofttwo inches long, thick, hard, and 

 horny. The Head was (mall for the bignefs of the bird, and almoft bald or fmooth 

 of a dark Purple colour, together with the upper part of the Neck, in which ap- 

 peared thin- fet, black hairs. The Eyes a little above the flit of the Bill, great, and 

 firy, almoft like to thofeof Lions, compafled with black hairs, as are alfo thofe fmall 

 open Ear- holes which it had behind the Eyes. The upper Chap of the Bill was as it- 

 were arched or bent like a Bow, a little above the point perforate with two hole? 

 fervingfor Nofthrils} from the middle whereof,reaching to the top of the Head arifes 

 a kind of towring Diadem or Crown, of a horny fubftance, near three inches' high, 

 of a dusky yellow colour -, which, as I underftood, falls offat moulting time, and 

 melmfrom C g rows U P a g ain witn the new feathers. The nether Chap of the Bill from the * flit 

 the corners of to the utmoft point was five inches long. The fore-part of the Neck, almoft four 

 the flit of the inches below the Bill, had as it were two membranous Wattles hanging down like a 

 beard,, two inches long, of a red Vermilion colour. The back-part of the Neck 

 was likewife deftitute of feathers, from the Head all along, being alfo of a red Ver- 

 milion colour : The lower part was covered with fome few red feathers, wherewith 

 black ones were intermingled. 



This Bird, although it feem to have fome marks common with the Ofirhh, as a fmall 

 Head, almoft bald 5 and that without choice it fwallows whatever you offer it 5 yet 

 hath it not feet divided into two Toes like them, but into three, wanting the back- 

 toe, after the manner of the Bufiards : And therefore fo firm and ftrong, that I have 

 feen a tree of the bignefs of a mans thigh wholly crufhed, and its bark taken away 

 ("asitsMafter told me ) by the Feet and Claws of this bird. For it was not wont to 

 aflault thofe with whom it fought, with its Bill, running forward 5 but turning it felf 

 obliquely or fideways, to ftrike backward with its Feet. 



But although it devoured indifferently whatever was offered, as Oranges entire 

 and the like, yet its ordinary food was white bread, which it (wallowed divided into 

 great lumps or morfels. But I was informed, that it was efpecially delighted with 

 new-laid Hens Eggs, which it fwallowed whole together with the (hell. But if "it 

 were not in petfe&health, it avoided them again entire, and then fwallowing them 

 anew the fecond time, it retained and concofted them. Moreover they affirmed to 

 me, that this bird was a Cock, and that it was fbmetimes feen to put fortha^e#*f 

 from behind like a Camel. An Egg of this bird, the greateft and faireft among many 

 that I fa w,- being meafured longways was fifteen inches in circuit, ; crofs-ways but twelve 

 or a little more : So that for its bignefs it .might be imployed and ufed for a velTel 

 as well as an Ofiriches, which, ( as Pliny teftifies ) the Ancients did fometimes ufe 

 and our Age alio ftill doth for that purpofe. For I remember that I have more than 

 once feen Ofiriches Eggs, tipt with, and fet in Silver, made ufe of for drinking Cups. 

 Howbeit the Shell of this Birds Egg was not very thick nor white, like the Shells of 

 Ofiriches Eggs, but in the outfide of a greeniih aih-cojour, adorned with continuous 

 at leaft very thick-fet fmall protuberances of a deep green. Of the reft which I faw 

 one was almoft of the fame bignefs, form, and colour with that defcribed 5 but fome 

 were more round, others lefler 5 the colour alfo of fome was more dilute, and left 

 elegant. Moreover, it was told me, that this fort of Bird is not peculiar to the Mo- 

 lucca Iflands, but found alfo in Sumatra or Taprobane, and the neighbouring Conti- 

 nent to thofe Iflands. Thus far Clufius. 



The Hen is much lefs than the Cock, of a dark Olive or dusky colour. It feems to 

 be a miracle in nature ( faith Aldrovandus, who borrowed his defcription out of the 

 Journal of a Holland Voyage ) that this bird wants a Tongue. Whatever it eats it {hal- 

 lows, This is not fo very wonderful 5 for we know other Birds befides this which 

 want the Tongue, as for example, The Pelican y &c. Whatever other Authors have 

 concerning the Emeu, as far as I have read, is all tranferibed out ofClufus : Excepting 

 Dr. Harvey, who doth briefly defcribe this Bird from ocular infpedion^ adding, that 

 it fwallows even live coals ; And I have obferved a Cut of it in the Tables of birds 

 fet out by Vtfscher, with this Infcription, Avis ignem devorans $ i. e. The bird that eats 

 or devours fire. 



§. IV. 



