. Animal Life and the World of Nature; A magazine of Natural History. >^ ^^^^^^?•^UAi. a singular orificein front of thewind-pipe, com-municating witha tracheal pouch,this peculiaritybeing confined tothe hen, whichon account of itslarge size may bereadily mistakenfor the cock the breed-ing season thehen bird uttersthis remarkablepercussive boom-ing note, no doubtto attract the malebird. The emu isthe second largestexisting bird, beingonly slightlysmaller than theostrich; it is equallyswift of foot, rival-ling the kangarooin speed, andaffording goodsport when chasedby dogs; but w
. Animal Life and the World of Nature; A magazine of Natural History. >^ ^^^^^^?•^UAi. a singular orificein front of thewind-pipe, com-municating witha tracheal pouch,this peculiaritybeing confined tothe hen, whichon account of itslarge size may bereadily mistakenfor the cock the breed-ing season thehen bird uttersthis remarkablepercussive boom-ing note, no doubtto attract the malebird. The emu isthe second largestexisting bird, beingonly slightlysmaller than theostrich; it is equallyswift of foot, rival-ling the kangarooin speed, andaffording goodsport when chasedby dogs; but whenit is within closerange, great carehas to be exercisedthat one does notget within reachof the outwardand backward kickof these birds,which would bringa man down easily,and often withsevere wounds,their legs beingexceedinglypowerful. Like the rhea,the male birdhatches the eggs,and when theZoological Society 366 Animal Life. kept the aviaiies iit their farm near Kmgston,it is recorded that a pair of emus had fiveyoung ones. The hen, at different times,dropped nine eggs in various places in tirepen; these viere collected in one place bythe male, who rolledthem gently and care-fully along with hisbeak. He then satupon them himself, andcontinued to do so withthe^ utmost assiduityfor nine weeks, duringwhich time he wasnever observed to leavethe nest, nor thefemale to take hisplace. AVhen theyoung were hatched,he alone took chargeof them, the hen notappearing to do so in |^any way. It must not Wbe supposed that thefemale emu is notpossessed of thatnatural affection forits young which other birds have. In orderto rescue it from thissuspicion, Mr. Jessementions that a femaleemu belonging to thelate Duke of Devon-shire, at Chatsworth,laid some eggs, and, asthere was no male bird,she collected them to-gether herself and satupon them. With whatresult is not recorded. The first of the threePlovers, pictures re-Swans
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