Nesting Habits of the Emu

Abstract

I AM able fully to confirm Prof. Moseley's statement of the habits of the emu in nesting at Blenheim. Some years ago my father was very successful in rearing these birds at his place at Brockham Lodge, near Dorking. The first egg was usually laid shortly after Christmas; the total number of a brood being from fifteen to twenty, laid usually at intervals of about forty-eight hours. Some title before the full number was laid the cock bird would commence the incubation by carefully drawing them under him. When the hen bird was ready to add to their number she would sit dawn by his side, produce the egg, and her mate would then carefully draw it under him with his foot. As soon as the number was completed, it became necessary to seclude the hen bird, as she was from this time “vicious” towards her mate and towards her own eggs; and the seclusion continued until the young birds had attained a considerable size, as she showed every disposition to destroy them. The number of eggs laid was often too large for the cock bird to get comfortably under him. Still during several years that my father kept the birds a considerable number of eggs were annually hatched, and the young birds reared to the breeding age. No brood from native birds was, however, obtained. They showed no disposition to change the breeding season from January to July. In captivity the birds strikingly exhibited their singular inquisitive propensities. They were not usually vicious, except during the breeding season, but were very easily frightened.