The Emeu. 34* 
THE EMEU. (Dromaius Novce Hollandice.) 
The head of this bird is without any horny crest, and 
feathered, but the cheeks and throat are nearly naked. 
The general colour is a dull brown, mottled with a dingy 
grey, and the young are striped with black. In appear- 
ance it closely resembles the ostrich, next to which it is 
the tallest bird known, but is of a more thick-set and 
clumsy make, though at the same time very swift and 
strong, and able to make a formidable defence against its 
hunters and their dogs, by kicking in a very vigorous 
and dangerous manner. It is, however, very docile, and 
if taken young may be easily tamed. The flesh is con- 
sidered excellent eating, and is said to possess a flavour 
something between a sucking-pig and a turkey. The 
only sound that this biid emits is a low drumming noise, 
produced by means of a valve attached to the lungs. 
The female Emeu lays her eggs in different places, but 
they are afterwards collected by the male, by rolling 
them to one place, when he sits on them. 
