The EMU (Dromæus Novæ-Hollandiæ) is larger than the Nandu, but inferior in size to the Ostrich, its height usually not exceeding six feet. Australian hunters have occasionally killed specimens measuring seven feet to the crown of the head. The coloration of the plumage is principally of a uniform pale brown, of a darker shade on the head, throat, and centre of the back, and paler on the under side. The eye is light brown, the beak horn-grey, and the foot pale brown; the bare parts of the face are of a greyish tinge.
This bird is much valued on account of the clear, bright yellow oil extracted from it. This is obtained by boiling, and employed both for burning and as an excellent liniment in gouty cases.
Dr. Bennett informs us that the natives regard the flesh as a highly luscious treat when cooked with the skin on, and that the fibula or small bone of the leg is employed by them as an ornament.
The flesh of the Emu, according to Mr. Cunningham, resembles beef "both in appearance and taste, and is good and sweet eating; nothing indeed can be more delicate than the flesh of the young. There is, however, but little of it fit for culinary use upon any part except the hind-quarters, which are of such dimensions that the shouldering of two hind legs homewards for a mile's distance proved," he says, "as tiresome a task as he ever encountered in the colony."
Dr. Leichardt "found the flesh of these birds of the greatest service during his overland route from Moreton Bay to Port Essington," in the course of which, but more particularly between the head of the Gulf of Carpentaria and Port Essington, the sight and capture of Emus was almost a daily occurrence; so abundant, in fact, were they, that he saw in the short space of eight miles at least one hundred, in flocks of three, five, ten, and even more at a time. Some curious practices exist with respect to this bird among the natives, and young men and boys are not allowed to feed upon it. The note of the Emu is a low, booming or pumping noise, which is produced in the female by means of the expansion and contraction of a large membranous bag, surrounding an oblong opening through the rings of the trachea; whether this peculiarity of structure is to be found in the male, we are not aware. The Emus pair with tolerable constancy, and the male bird appears to take a large share in the task of incubation. The eggs, which are merely placed in a cavity scooped in a sandy soil, are six or seven in number, and of a beautiful dark green, resembling shagreen in appearance; they are five inches and three-quarters long, by three inches and three-quarters in breadth. The eggs are held in much esteem by the natives, who feed upon them whenever they can be procured.
The nest of the Emu is situated, as we are informed by Dr. Bennett, in a scrub upon the hills, where a space is scraped, similar to those formed by brooding hens. The sticks and leaves, which alone compose the nest, are laid round the cleared spot, and here the eggs are deposited without regard to regularity, the number varying from nine to thirteen. It is a curious circumstance that there is always an odd number. It is now ascertained beyond a doubt that the eggs are hatched by incubation, and not, as was once supposed, by solar heat. They are of large size, and of a beautiful blueish green colour.
THE SPOTTED EMU.
The SPOTTED EMU (Dromæus irroratus) is readily distinguished from the above birds by its comparatively slender build, weaker feet, longer toes, and the spots upon its plumage. This species differs from the Dromæus Novæ-Hollandiæ in having the whole of the body-feathers distinctly marked with narrow transverse bars of light grey and brownish black; the feathers on the back and sides are broader, longer, and less silky in texture than those of the common kind, the latter difference being quite evident to the touch. The upper part of the body and the neck are nearly black, and the feathers appear thicker than those on the same parts in the other species. "Having seen," says Mr. Gould, "adult and youthful examples of this Emu, all bearing the characters which suggested its specific name, I have no doubt of its being distinct from the D. Novæ-Hollandiæ. I am almost equally certain that it is confined to the western division of Australia, and that it represents there the Emu of the eastern coast. Whether the two species incubate in South Australia, and if the present bird extends its range to north and north-west, future research must determine."
The CASSOWARIES (Casuarii) are distinguishable from the group above described by their compact body, short thick neck, low but powerful legs, as also by the helmet that adorns their head, the peculiarity of their plumage, and the formation of their beak and toes. In these birds the bill is straight, compressed at its sides, arched at its culmen, slightly hooked at its tip, and incised at both margins; the small, oval-shaped nostrils are situated at the extremity, and the elevated, compressed helmet at the base of the beak; the neck, which is bare and brightly coloured on its upper portion, is furnished with either one or two lappets; the wings consist of five strong, unwebbed, and rounded shafts; the tail is not developed; the long robust tarsi are covered with hexagonal scales except near the toes, where the scales are transverse. The lateral toes are longer than the middle one, and the outer toe longest of all; the claws are moderate and blunt, that on the centre toe very long and powerful. The plumage resembles hair rather than feathers, the webs being disunited and streaming. Five, or according to Gould six, species of these remarkable birds have been discovered, but with three of them we are almost entirely unacquainted; even the habitat of the C. uniappendiculatus and C. bicarunculatus is uncertain. We also know nothing of the C. Kaupii, the type of the race, except that it was found by Rosenberg in New Guinea, and called by him after Kaup the naturalist.