THE ZOOLOGIST 



FOR 1863. 



Acclimation and Breeding of Emeus in Surrey. 

 By William Bennett, Esq. 



On the 23rd of June, 1860, by favour of the late Captain Neatby, of 

 the * Duncan Dunbar,' I received a pair of emeus, just imported by 

 him from Sydney. They were somewhat unmanageable when first 

 landed ; and proving too large, and requiring too much room for the 

 person at Sydenham for whom they were originally intended, they 

 were kindly taken in for a short time by the authorities of the Crystal 

 Palace, from whence they were removed here direct. 



The first thing was to provide the best conditions I could to make 

 them comfortable. For this purpose a space or paddock, of about a 

 quarter of an acre, well shaded on one side, with a southern slope 

 towards the river Mole, was inclosed by iron hurdles, with the house 

 in which they were imported placed in one corner for night shelter. 

 They were protected from the river, because, though fond of water, 

 they do not know how to manage themselves out of their depth, the 

 bottom in this part being very uncertain, and full of great holes. As 

 soon as their propensity for bathing was discovered, a pond of a 

 graduated depth was made for the purpose, in which they disport 

 themselves precisely in the manner as a fowl in a dust-bath. They 

 were driven into the house the first two or three nights ; but 

 exhibiting an invincible repugnance to this process from the moment 

 they obtained their freedom, and not appearing to surfer, they were 

 ever after left to their liberty in this respect ; and though it was 

 resumed in the winter, they never voluntarily sought shelter in any 

 weather beyond that of the trees, but generally settled in the dampest 

 spot they could find for the night. They did not appear at all to 

 suffer even from being out in the snow, and I have seen them eat 

 pieces of solid ice thrown out of the water-bucket, though their 

 VOL. XXI. B 



