. The Cambridge natural history. Zoology; Zoologia Geral. DROMAEIDAE 37 and spots on the head and lower parts. The sexes are similarly coloured, both possessing a remarkable tracheal pouch, connected by a slit with the windpipe, and only fully developed in adults.^ In their general habits Emeus are not unlike Cassowaries, but they inhabit sandy plains or open forest districts, being invariably monogamous, though seen in small parties after breed- ing. Their sight is keen, they run strongly and rapidly, rest on the whole metatarsus, and kick out backwards towards the Fig. 11.—Emeu. Druma
. The Cambridge natural history. Zoology; Zoologia Geral. DROMAEIDAE 37 and spots on the head and lower parts. The sexes are similarly coloured, both possessing a remarkable tracheal pouch, connected by a slit with the windpipe, and only fully developed in adults.^ In their general habits Emeus are not unlike Cassowaries, but they inhabit sandy plains or open forest districts, being invariably monogamous, though seen in small parties after breed- ing. Their sight is keen, they run strongly and rapidly, rest on the whole metatarsus, and kick out backwards towards the Fig. 11.—Emeu. Drumaeus noTae-hollandiae. x -^. The food is of fruit, roots, and herbage, generally ol)tained in the morning or evening; water is freely dj'unk, and the birds love bathing, being capable of crossing even a broad river. They utter at times a hissing or grunting sound, but in the nesting- season a peculiar loud booming or drumming note is produced, probably in connexion with the tracheal pouch. The nest may be a mere hollow scraped in the ground, with or without a sur- rounding ring of grass or plant-stems, or a mound of bark-scales some three inches high ^; the eggs are from seven to thirteen in number, or even more, and are of a dark, or occasionally light, 1 Cf. Murie, '. 1867, p. 405. - Xortli, Xcsts and Egtjs of Australian Birds, Sydncj', 1889, p. Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original Harmer, S. F. (Sidney Frederic), Sir, 1862-; Shipley, A. E. (Arthur Everett), Sir, 1861-1927. [London, Macmillan and co. , limited; New York, The Macmillan company
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