THE AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST. 55: 
‘could possibly consult), clearly betray the London editor of the 
ornithological portion of the Journal (Dr. Shaw), whose identity 
ds revealed in the preface to the work. It is to be regretted, 
therefore, that we do not certainly know whether Surgeon 
White favoured, or was opposed to the view advocated by his 
‘colleague. - 
In his second book, entitled “A Complete Account of the 
Settlement at Port Jackson, &c.,” a quarto without illustrations, 
published in 1793, and under the heading of “On its Animal 
Productions,” Captain Tench gives a general account of the 
emu. As this is too lengthy to quote in full, a sentence or two 
will suffice. He says: “ At the head of the birds the cassowary, 
or emu, stands conspicuous. . Thelargest cassowary ever 
‘killed in the settlement weighed ninety-four pounds.” In 
addition, the bird is spoken of as the cassowary four times 
(pp. 173-175). 
The author’s apparent preference for the name cassowary in 
this book is perhaps to be explained by his absence from New 
South Wales since December, 1791, and a desire to defer to 
local (English) authority. 
In the same year, 1793, Captain John Hunter’s “ An 
Historical Journal of the Transactions at Port Jackson,’ made 
its appearance. The following extract from this work is of 
importance:—“ There are a great variety of birds in this 
country . . . There have been several large birds seen 
since we arrived in this port; they were supposed, by those who 
first saw them, to be the ostrich, as they could not fly when 
pursued, but ran exceedingly fast; so much so that a very 
strong and fleet greyhound could not come nearthem: one was 
shot, which gave us an opportunity of a more close examination. 
Some were of opinion that it ywas the emew, which I think is 
particularly described by Dr. Goldsmith, from Linneus ; others 
imagined it to be the cassowary, but it far exceeds that bird in 
Size; it was, when standing, seven feet two inches from its 
feet to the upper part of its head; the only difference which I 
could perceive between this bird and the ostrich was in its 
bill, which appeared to me to be narrower at the point, and it 
has three toes, which I.am told is not the case with the ostrich : 
it has one characteristic by which it may be known, and which 
we thought very extraordinary; this is, that two distinct 
feathers grow out from every quill. The flesh of this bird, &c.”” 
p. 69.) 
ene account is noteworthy for several reasons. Captain 
Hunter is the only contributor to the “ Sydney Chronicles ” who 
spells the word, ‘“‘emew”; possibly this may have been 
typographical error which passed unnoticed. He is also the 
only author, besides Tench, who makes any reference to: 
Goldsmith; but evidently this reference was based on hearsay. 
Hunter could hardly have*consulted “The Animated Nature,’’ 
fo hs 
“o™ 
