emu

n.

an Australian bird, Dromaiusnovae-hollandiae, Lath. There is a second species, SpottedEmu, Dromaius irroratus, Bartlett. An earlier, but nowunusual, spelling is Emeu. Emeus is thescientific name of a New Zealand genus of extinct struthiousbirds. The word Emu is not Australian, but from thePortuguese Ema, the name first of the Crane, afterwardsof the Ostrich. Formerly the word Emu was used inEnglish for the Cassowary, and even for the American Ostrich.Since 1885 an Emu has been the design on the twopennypostage stamp of New South Wales.

1613. `Purchas Pilgrimmage,' pt. I. Vol v. c. xii. p. 430(`O.E.D.'):

«The bird called Emia or Eme is admirable.»

1774. Oliver Goldsmith, `Natural History,' vol. iii. p. 69,Book III. c. v. [Heading]

«The Emu.»

1788. `History of New South Wales' (1818), p. 53:

«A bird of the ostrich genus, but of a species very differentfrom any other in the known world, was killed and broughtin. Its length was between seven and eight feet; its flesh wasgood and thought to resemble beef. It has obtained the name ofthe New South Wales Emu.»

1789. Captain W. Tench, `Expedition to Botany Bay,' p. 123:

«The bird which principally claims attention is a species ofostrich, approaching nearer to the emu of South America thanany other we know of.»

1793 Governor Hunter, `Voyage,' p. 69:

«Some were of opinion that it was the emew, which I think isparticularly described by Dr. Goldsmith from Linneus: othersimagined it to be the cassowary, but it far exceeds that birdin size . . . two distinct feathers grew out from everyquill.»

1802. D. Collins, `Account of English Colony in New South Wales,'vol. ii. p. 307:

«These birds have been pronounced by Sir Joseph Banks, of whosejudgment none can entertain a doubt, to come nearer to what isknown of the American ostrich than to either the emu of Indiaor the ostrich of Africa.»

1804. `Rev. R. Knopwood's Diary' (J. J. Shillinglaw – – `Historical Records of Port Phillip,' 1879), p. 115:

[At the Derwent] 26 March, 1804 – – «They caught six young emews[sic], about the size of a turkey, and shot the old mother.»

1832. J. Bischof, `Van Diemen's Land,' p. 165:

«We saw an emu track down the side of a hill.»

1846. J. L. Stokes, `Discovery in Australia,' vol. i. c. ix.p.276

«The face of the emu bears a most remarkable likeness to thatof the aborigines of New South Wales.»

1846. C. P. Hodgson, `Reminiscences of Australia,' p. 160:

«They will pick up anything, thimbles, reels of cotton, nails,bullets indiscriminately: and thus the proverb of `having thedigestion of an emu' has its origin.»

1848. J. Gould, `Birds of Australia,' vol. vi. pl. I:

« Dromaius Novae Hollandiae. The Emu. New HollandCassowary. – – 'Governor Phillips' Voyage, 1789.'»

1850. J. B. Clutterbuck, `Port Phillip in 1849,' p. 42:

«The emu strides with such rapidity over the plains as torender its capture very difficult even by the swiftestgreyhound.»

1872. C. H. Eden, «My Wife and I in Queensland,' p. 52:

«A couple of grave-looking emus. These wobble away at anungainly but rapid pace directly they sight us, most probablyvainly pursued by the dray dogs which join us farther on, wearyand unsuccessful – – indeed the swiftest dog finds an emu as muchas he can manage.»

1878. A. Newton, in `Encyclopedia Britannica' (9th edit.),vol. viii. p. 173:

«Next to the ostrich the largest of existing birds, the commonemeu. . .''

1881. A.C. Grant, `Bush Life in Queensland,' vol. i. p. 210:

«. . . points out two emus to John. . . . They resembleostriches, but are not so large, and the tail droops more.. . . John can distinguish every point about them, from theirblack cast-iron looking legs, to the bare neck and small head,with its bright eye and strong flat beak.»

1890. `Victorian Statutes – – Game Act, Third Schedule':

«Emu. [Close Season.] From the 14th day of June to the 20thday of December following in each year.»

1893. `The Argus,' March 25,p. 4, col. 5:

«The chief in size is the egg of the cassowary, exactly likethat of the emu except that the colour is pale moss greeninstead of the dark green of the emu.»