U AN AUSTRALIAN BlttD BOOK. 
CLASS.-AVES.-BIRDS. 
Sub-Class L— Palaeognathae. 
Ratitae and Tinamidae. 
F. 1. Rheidae, Rhea, 3 sp. Nl. 
F. 2. StrutTiionidae, Ostrich, 4 sp.~4 (3) E., 1(0) P. (S. Palestine) . 
ORDER I. — CASUARIIFORMES. 
F. 3. DROMAEIDAE (1), EMU, 1 sp. A. 
1 1 Emu^ Dro mains novae-hollandiae, A. Stat. r. plains 78 
1 See diagram, second largest living bird; f., smaller. 
Fruits, grass. 
the Australian Continent and adjacent islands. Thus Aus- 
tralia can justly claim to be the most highly developed of 
regions, so far as birds are concerned, for Bower-Birds, Birds of 
Paradise, and Bell-Magpies (Streperas) are peculiar, while the 
penultimate family — the Crow family — :is shared with the other 
regions of the world. 
Thus, with regard to birds, the term "fossil continent" applied 
to Australia is not appropriate, as it is but partly true. 
Since the birds native to Australia are so interesting in them- 
selves, and are so varied in kind, Australians should know, love, 
and jealously protect these beautiful creatures. Strict regula- 
tions should be framed to prevent the exploitation of Nature's 
gifts by those who destroy useful or precious and rare birds for 
