However, In The North Emus May Be Found In Plenty; And I Do Not
Think There Is The Slightest Fear Of Their Becoming Extinct, As Some
Writers Suggest.
All my readers must have seen this bird at the Zoological
Gardens, and remarked its likeness to the ostrich, both in form and habits;
but the prisoner portrays but poorly the free majestic gait of the wild
inhabitant of the plains.
The colour of the adult bird is a greyish brown,
the feathers are very loose and hairy, whilst the height of a fine male is
often nearly seven feet. The usual mode of capturing these birds is to
ride them down, using dogs trained for the purpose to pull them to the
ground. The dogs should be taught to reserve their attack until the emu is
thoroughly tired out, and then to spring upon the neck; but an unwary puppy
will bitterly rue his temerity should he come within reach of the powerful
legs, which deal kicks fiercely around, and of sufficient power to disable
any assailant. The ostrich always kicks forward, in which he differs from
the emu, whose blow is delivered sideways and backwards, like a cow. This
bird is very good eating, if you know the part to select; the legs proving
tough and unpalatable, while the back is nearly as tender as fowl. But to
the bushman the most valuable thing about the emu is its oil, which is
looked upon as a sovereign remedy for bruises or sprains when rubbed into
the affected part either pure or mixed with turpentine. This useful oil is
of a light yellow colour, and from its not readily congealing or becoming
glutinous, it is in much request for cleaning the locks of fire-arms. It
chiefly resides in the skin, but also collects in great quantities near the
rump. The usual mode of obtaining it is to pluck out all the feathers, cut
the skin into small pieces, and boil them in a common pot; but a still
simpler plan, though less productive, is to hang the skin before a fire,
and catch the oil as it drips down. A full-sized bird will yield from six
to seven quarts. The food of the emu consists of grass and various fruits.
It emits a deep drumming sound from its throat, but no other cry, that I
ever heard. Its nest is only a shallow hole scraped in the ground, and in
this hollow the eggs, which vary in number, are laid. Dr. Bennett remarks
that "There is always an odd number, some nests having been discovered with
nine, others with eleven, and others again with thirteen." When fresh they
are of a beautiful green colour, and are in much request for mounting in
silver as drinking cups; but after a little while the colour changes to a
dirty brownish green. One peculiarity about the next is, that the parent
bird never goes straight up to it, but walks round and round in a narrowing
circle, of which the nest is the centre.
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