IN CAPTIVITY IN LOWER BENGAL. 347 



fear was entertained about its life, so that, about the 39th day "of its 

 sitting an attempt was made to induce it to eat by placing tempting 

 morsels close to the bird. This had the undesirable effect of disturbing 

 the animal, which left the nest and began walking up and down in a most 

 excited manner. Fortunately, however, it soon settled down again. It 

 appears certain from the notes kept at the time that the bird was never 

 observed to leave the nest during the prolonged period of incubation, 

 except on the occasion mentioned above. It is presumed that it must 

 have procured sustenance at night when there was nobody about, but 

 a plateful of food left overnight was always found untouched in the 

 morning. The emaciated condition in which the bird was found to 

 be reduced rather supports the belief that it went without food. Of 

 the 15 eggs, 4 were addled or broken and 11 hatched. The chicks 

 at birth were striped longitudinally on the back and sides on a light 

 greyish ground, the marking being black. For the first 12 hours 

 or so the young emus require no food, but afterwards they should be 

 fed on cabbages and doob grass chopped fine ; for weakly birds hard- 

 boiled eggs mixed with finely powdered meal should also be supplied. 

 One of the chicks died w T hen a week old ; two were made away with 

 at night by jackals. To insure against a similar mishap the nursery had 

 to be enclosed with wire-netting. Of the eight surviving young, only 

 two reached full growth, the rest dying before they were six months 

 old, from the effects of cold or gape. The stripes of the young 

 disappear in about six months, and they assume the mottled appearance 

 of the adult. 



Transport. — It is perhaps best to place them separately to prevent 

 any chance of fighting. 



Treatment in sickness. 



The same as the cassowaries. One of the emus now living had, 

 some three years ago, an attack of inflammation of the lining membrane 

 of the mouth, to which ulceration supervened ; while under treatment 

 it was removed to another part of the garden. The effect of the change 

 was marvellous ; the animal soon recovered, and was sent back to the 

 old place ; before, however, six months had elapsed it again became 

 subject to the same ailment, was again removed, and the result, as 

 anticipated, was that it speedily recovered. Some of the cassowaries 

 which died from the effect of the ulceration of the mouth and windpipe 

 occupied the same enclosure where the emu was afterwards placed, 

 and it is not unlikely that their lives might have been saved if timely 

 removed like the emu. The grounds of the enclosure have since been 

 somewhat raised and its drainage also improved. 



Observations on the habits of Emus. 



An emu is a very inquisitive creature, especially the young ones. 

 Ordinarily emus walk with a heavy and measured step, but if so inclined 

 they are capable of running with great swiftness, as may be seen when 

 they are chasing one another or engaged in gambols ; they leap, jump, 

 and kick, roll over, then suddenly get up and begin the chase anew, 

 stopping as suddenly again, each takes a different direction. This takes 



