TASMANIAN EMU. 
The extinction of the Tasmanian Emu, and the rarity of specimens in 
museums, explains the want of evidence as to the differences existing between 
it and the Common Emu {Dromaius novce-hoUandice) of the continent of Australia. 
Most authors have considered them identical. 
The late Ronald Gunn wrote in 1852 : — “ Tame Emus are common in the 
Colony [Tasmania], but the original stock of most of those now domesticated 
was introduced from Port Phillip.”* 
From Mr. Le Souef’s notesf I gather the following. On the authority of 
Mr. Stephens he says that “ in the early ‘ fifties ’ Mr. James Cox, of Clarendon, 
imported one or more from Victoria, and others were introduced somewhat 
earlier. 
“ A specimen lived for some years in the City Park, Launceston. Mr. 
Wm. M’ Go wan, the Superintendent for Public Reserves in that city, informs 
me that the bird was received there about thirty years ago, and that it lived 
for about ten years in confinement, but that the person who buried it on its 
death has since died, therefore its burial place is unfortunately not known. 
Mr. M’ Go wan, speaking from memory, considers it was quite as large as 
the mainland species. This bird was supposed to be the last of the Tasmanian 
Emus, but as apparently nothing authentic is known as to where it really 
came from, it may very probably have been imported from Australia, as there 
are records of Emus having been sent across to Tasmania over fifty years ago 
from Victoria. 
“ Emus were originally plentiful in Tasmania, as they are often mentioned 
by early settlers. For instance, the late Rev. R. Knockwood mentions an 
Emu and six yqung ones in his diary in 1803,J and Mr. T. Stephens, of 
Adelaide Street, Hobart, has kindly sent me the following notes regarding 
them. Mr. John Meredith, of Cambria, East Coast, says : — “ I remember 
perfectly Emus being caught in this neighbourhood prior to 1830, and for 
a few years subsequently, also between this place and Avoca. I saw a pair at 
Circular Head on ‘ Black Thursday ’ (1851). They were full grown, and had 
with them half a dozen young ones. The old birds had been caught \ when 
young near Circular Head, and reared and tamed. 
“ Mr. Ransom, of Killymoon, in the Fingal district, remembers hunting 
Emus with Kangaroo dogs about 1840, when he was a young man of 18. 
He remembers Captain Hepburn, of Roy’s Hill, finding an Emu’s nest with 
eight or nine eggs. A little later these were hatched under a Turkey hen. 
From these were bred others, and a pair of them was given to the late Baron 
* Gunn, in West's History of Tasmania, I., p. 330 (1852). 
t Emu, III., p. 229 (1904). 
f This diary is quoted by Mr. A. Morton {Emu, III., p. 158) to the effect that “ The Rev. Robert Knopwood 
recorded that his dog killed one large Emu and that six young ones were got.” 
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