E'MII Hollandice), a very large bird, one of the struth ionidce or brevipennes, a native of Australia, and widely diffused over the southern parts of that continent and the adjacent islands. It is by some ornithologists referred to the same genus with the cassowary, but the differences are very considerable; the bill being, horizontally depressed, whilst that of the cassowary is laterally compressed, the head feathered, and destitute of bony crest; the throat is nearly naked, and has no pendent wattles; the feet are three-toed as in the cassowary, but the claws are nearly of equal length. The name E. or emeu was given by the older voyagers and naturalists to the cassowary, but is now the invariable designation of the Australian bird. The E. is even taller than the cassowary, which it resembles in the general character of its plumage. Its wings are mere rudiments hidden beneath the feathers of the body. Its color is a dull brown, mottled with dingy gray; the young are striped with black. When assailed, it strikes backwards and obliquely with its feet, like the cassowary, and it is so powerful that a stroke of its foot is said to be sufficient to break a man's leg, Dogs employed in hunting it are often injured by its kicks, hut well-trained dogs run in before it, and spring at its neck. It cannot fly, but runs very fleetly. It is timid and peaceful, and
trusts altogether to its speed for safety, unless hard pressed. In a wild state, it some times occurs in small flocks; but it has now become rare in and around all the settled parts of Australia. The extinction of the species may, however, perhaps be prevented by its being preserved in a state of domestication; as its flesh is excellent, and it is very easily domesticated, and breeds readily in that state. It has frequently bred in Britain. The eggs are six or seven in number, dark green; the male performs the principal part of the incubation. The eggs are highly esteemed as food. The skin of the E. contains much oil—six or seven quarts are obtained from a single bird, and on this account it has been much hunted in Australia. The food of the E. consists chiefly of roots, fruits, and herbage. Its only note is a drumming sound, which it frequently emits.